Franklin D. Roosevelt's First 100 Days in The White House - Essay Example

? Franklin D. Roosevelt's First 100 Days in White House Email address Franklin D. Roosevelt's First 100 Days in White House It was onMarch 4, 1933 that Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn in as the thirty second president of the United States (Coker, 2005, p. 87). The days starting on March 9 and ending on June 16 are referred to as “hundred days” of President Roosevelt and these first hundred days in office of the president were dramatic and eventful (Coker and Pederson, 2011, p. 241). These days saw 15 very important legislations becoming laws (Coker, 2005, p. 93). Generally these laws were directed towards reforming the ailing US economy (Coker, 2005, p. 94). The first hundred days were supposedly the period in which Roosevelt ““charted a course” for the rest of presidency” (Pederson, 2011, p. 241). The general policies that he put forth were in the fields of economy, industry, employment, agriculture, environment and social welfare (Digital library, 2012). On the first day in office, Roosevelt had spoken to the public reportedly with a sense of “urgency and optimism” and he said, “This great nation will endure as it had endured […] the only thing we have to fear is fear itself” (Coker, 2005, p. 87). These words were interpreted as having reflective of the “national mood” of “helplessness” caused by economic depression (Coker, 2005, p. 87). Unemployment was on the rise, prices were falling, industries and agriculture were on the verge of collapse, bankruptcy auctions were going on, teachers unpaid for months were protesting in the street, and the bank depositors were also panicking about the safety of their money and protesting in front of the banks (Alter, 2006, n. p.; Pederson, 2011, p. 241). Many newspapers and opinion makers were shouting for a “benevolent dictator” to come and save the nation when Roosevelt assumed office (Alter, 2006, n. p.). Digital History (2012) has described the social situation of the US when Roosevelt became president in the following words: A quarter of the nation’s workforce was jobless. A quarter million families had defaulted on their mortgages in the previous year. During the winter of 1932 and 1933, some 1.2 million Americans were homeless […] since 1929, about 9,000 banks, holding the savings of 27 million families, had failed […].The public was desperate for action. To enable the transfer of power smoothly from the previous president and his administrative team, Roosevelt had created a “transition team” (Coker, 2005, p. 87). While selecting people for the key administrative positions under his authority, Roosevelt was found to be concentrating on the intellectual abilities, regional representation and loyalty to him as well (Coker, 2005, p. 89). He, thus, found his people from among “Ivy League intellectuals and New York State social workers” (Digital Library, 2012). There was “an inner circle” of persons who were instrumental in his rise to the president-ship, and he took all his important decisions in consultation with this team after the election as well (Coker, 2005, p. 88). When Roosevelt declared the “New Deal” policy, its lack of strong “ideological or philosophical frame work” was attributed to the “diversity and size” of his support teams (Coker, 2005, p. 89). Roosevelt is understood as a president who was “open to all viewpoints and was more impressed with those who had innovative ideas that might generate results rather than advisors who came across as narrow in their thinking”(Coker, 2005, p. 89). Owing to this style of functioning, many policies of Roosevelt were criticized as being “inconsistent, haphazard, and even contradictory” (Coker, 2005, p. 89). What Roosevelt valued most as an administrator reportedly was “action” (Coker, 2005, p. 89). The way Roosevelt made his decisions by prompting his think tank into brainstorming sessions, where he would act as a moderator, was a new style of functioning to the US presidency (Coker, 2005, p. 94). The support team that he had was known as the “brain trust” (Digital Library, 2012). Generally, the leadership style of Roosevelt has been understood as one that “yeilds results” (Coker, 2005, p. 94). The first thing that Roosevelt did after coming to office was to convene a special session of the Congress and asked the Congress a mandate for himself to have "broad executive power to wage a war against the emergency, as great as the power that would be given […] [him] if […] [the nation] were in fact invaded by a foreign foe." (Digital Library, 2012). Through acting in this manner, reflecting the urgency of the situation, Roosevelt created an ambience receptive of the reforms and drastic changes that he envisaged to bring in, in all sectors. The first policy decision of Roosevelt as the president was the declaration of a “bank holiday” to cope with the financial crisis (Coker, 2005, p. 91). On the fourth day of his presidency, Roosevelt had the Emergency Banking Act passed in the Senate (Coker, 2005, p. 91). The draft of this law was prepared by his associates in a short span of four days’ time, and the Congress passed the law with just an 8-hour discussion, which is indicative of how fast the president wanted to act and how much the administrative staff supported his resolve (Digital Library, 2012). This law was criticized as giving undue powers to the president “to intervene in the economy at will” (Coker, 2005, p. 91). Emergency Banking Act “gave the president broad powers over the Federal Reserve System” (Digital Library, 2012). According to this law, banks were compelled to close down their operations until they attain stable “reserves” (Coker, 2005, p. 91). This law also had provisions in it for the severely affected banks to get funds from the US treasury (Coker, 2005, p. 91). This was a law that totally revamped the banking system in the US and gave it a new face that prevails even today with only slight changes to note. After a week or so after this bill was introduced, a majority of banks could recoup and begin their normal operations again (Coker, 2005, p. 91). Meanwhile, to avoid public panic and the possibility of the people taking out all their money from banks as they reopen, Roosevelt gave a radio-broadcast address to the public and explained in simple words, what the problem was and why there was no necessity to panic (Coker, 2005, p. 92). He gave an impression to the public that everything was under control and in the safe hands of the government, though he stressed upon the severity of the problem (Digital Library, 2012). A series of such speeches were to follow in his presidential period and put a precedence of “fireside chats” by the future presidents of United States to the public (Pederson, 2011, p. 242). In a radio address to veterans, the president also called for the “support of the men of the Legion and of all men and women who love their country, who know the meaning of sacrifice and who in every emergency have given splendid and generous service to the Nation” (The American Presidency Project, 1999-2012). This was in view of the rising unrest in the country and the possibility of mass street protests that might turn violent, and Roosevelt expected the veterans to join his league in action in case a necessity arose (Digital Library, 2012). Through such steps and actions, the president was also mobilizing support for his forthcoming policies and preparing the people of the nation to face drastic economic reforms. In his first “fireside chat” on banking, he said: After all, there is an element in the readjustment of our financial system more important than currency, more important than gold, and that is the confidence of the people. Confidence and courage are the essentials of success in carrying out our plan. You people must have faith; you must not be stampeded by rumors or guesses. Let us unite in banishing fear. We have provided the machinery to restore our financial system; it is up to you to support and make it work (The American Presidency Project, 1999-2012). The Economy Act was the second legislation to be passed in the “hundred days” which “cut government spending” and put forth directions for a “balanced budget” (Pederson, 2011, p. 242). Another act that became law was Beer and Wine Revenue Act which “repeal[ed] prohibition” and imposed tax on liquor (Pederson, 2011, p. 242). The revenue that could be earned from such taxes was to become a breater for the government which was under severe fund constraints. The Banking Act (Glass-Steagall) “separated investment and commercial banking activities” which had been a long-standing demand (Pederson, 2011, p. 243). As another step of financial corrections to guarantee the savings of American citizens, Roosevelt put a new system in place through Banking Act, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) which got its reserve funds by making banks sell their preferred stock (Coker, 2005, p. 92). Thus, in a period of six months, above “one billion dollars” was raised to support the banks in crisis (Coker, 2005, p. 92). In April, as yet another major step to recharge the economy, the US dollar was detached from gold standard (Coker, 2005, p. 93). This led to depreciation of dollar value but yet could activate the lethargic economy (Coker, 2005, p. 94). Along with this, the Federal Reserve was asked to “ease credit” (Digital Library, 2012). The Emergency Conservation Act was yet another legislation made during this time, and enabled the formation of Civilian Conservation Corps that mobilized young people to be participants in nature conservation and nation building measures (Pederson, 2011, p. 242). The young people were paid a wage for doing this work and the achievement of this force was so impressive that, “within a year, the CCC workers had improved millions of acres of forest and park land, had erected thousands of lines of telephone lines, had built 420,000 dams to prevent soil erosion, and had fought innumerable fires” (Pederson, 2011, p. 242). When Roosevelt assumed office, the agricultural sector of the nation was in peril with prices of the produces diminishing day by day (Coker, 2005, p. 94). Reports were coming of people interrupting and breaking up “bankruptcy auctions” (Alter, 2006, n. p.). Roosevelt announced a set of agricultural policies that invited a “heated debate” (Coker, 2005, p. 95). The Agricultural Adjustment Act became law in May and a national agricultural policy came into being through this act (Pederson, 2011, p. 242). This policy was meant to “increase farm income by creating a government-induced scarcity through a subsidization program” (Pederson, 2011, p. 242). As it was judged that many agricultural produces were being “over-produced,” the government through this law, “paid farmers a subsidy to curtail production” (Pederson, 2011, p. 243). In this way, a price rise was created for agricultural goods but later the Supreme Court declared this act as unconstitutional in view of the food needs of the poor people (Pederson, 2011, p. 243). In retrospect, this act has been seen as helping to increase the income of farmers in general, but rich farmers in particular, and not addressing the problems of “sharecroppers and tenant farmers” (Digital Library, 2012). But yet, this was the “nation's first system of agricultural price and production supports” (Digital Library, 2012). Federal Emergency Relief Act that became law in the “hundred days,” established the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) that gave unemployed people financial allowances (Pederson, 2011, p. 243). This act “pumped $500 million into state-run welfare programs” (Digital Library, 2012). In view of the extreme poverty faced by a majority of people, Roosevelt remarked that: The Federal Government, of course, does have to prevent anybody from starving, but the Federal Government should not be called upon to exercise that duty until other agencies fail. The primary duty is that of the locality, the city, county, town. If they fail and cannot raise enough to meet the needs, the next responsibility is on the States and they have to do all they can. If it is proven that they cannot do any more and the funds are still insufficient, it is the duty of the Federal Government to step in (The American Presidency Project, 1999-2012). Tennessee Valley Authority was created to “build hydroelectric dams to produce electricity as well as to control floods and provide important economic development for the entire Tennessee Valley” (Pederson, 2011, p. 243). This was the first attempt by government to get involved in “energy production” (Digital Library). The Farm Credit Act addressed the loan and mortgage problems of the farmers, the Home Owners Loan Act gave relief to home owners regarding their home mortgages, and the Federal Securities Act “regulated the issuance of stocks and bonds” (Pederson, 2011, pp. 243-244). The National Industrial Recovery Act made provisions for “industrial self-regulation” and created National Recovery Administration (Pederson, 2011, p. 244). A new Public Works Administration was created as part of this act which envisaged big public infrastructure development works to wake up the economy from inertia (Coker, 2005, p. 99). The Public Works Administration funded around “34,000 projects, such as the Hoover dam, the Grand Coulee dam, the bridge from Key West to the main land of Florida, and New York city’s FDR drive and the Tirborough bridge” (Pederson, 2011, p. 244). These projects gave a new momentum to the economy (Pederson, 2011, p. 245). Roosevelt was very much aware that it was only with the wholehearted support from the House of Representatives that he could go ahead with his series of legislations. In his address to the House of Representatives on June 16th, when he completed 100 days in office, the president said: I want to convey to you and to the members of the House of Representatives an expression of my thanks for making possible, on the broad average, a more sincere and whole-hearted cooperation between the legislative and the executive branches of the United States Government than has been witnessed by the American people in many a long year (The American Presidency Project, 1999-2012). This gratitude was well-deserved just because in those hundred days, “the lawmakers stood ready to do practically anything the president asked” (Freedman, 1992, p. 92). All the financial legislations made in the “hundred days” together yielded only “moderate” results and “short-term” gains (Coker, 2005, pp.103, 94). The first hundred days of Roosevelt in office were viewed with “adulation” and criticism by his supporters and opponents, respectively (Fried, 2011, p. 57). Father Coughlin was one supporter of Roosevelt who coined the usage that became very popular those days, “Roosevelt or ruin” (Fried, 2011, p. 57). The sermons of Coughlin showed how the first hundred days of Roosevelt had created a public response, positive and negative, still massively huge (Fried, 2011, p. 57). The economic policies of Roosevelt in his first hundred days were criticized by many in that period itself, and demanded to be replaced with nationalization of wealthy banks, bringing back of gold as the “currency standard”, and a redistribution of wealth through taxing the rich people (Fried, 2011, p. 66). Though Roosevelt resisted such drastic socialist measures, he was viewed as “a socialist of the radical type” at least by some (Fried, 2011, p. 114). But it is evident that the total vision of Roosevelt was driven by the concept that the government of America had a responsibility to improve the “quality of” life of ordinary Americans (Digital Library, 2012). Pragmatism was another aspect to Roosevelt’s policies (Digital Library, 2012). Instead of splitting hairs on matter of ideology and morality, the Roosevelt administration and the president himself decided things based on practical solutions (Digital Library, 2012). But all the same, the policies of Roosevelt were not purely market-driven but in favor of a welfare state with a strong market (Digital Library, 2012). As an individual, Roosevelt’s ability to relax even amidst extreme crisis was noted by many (Freedman, p. 109). In the White House, he was seen sometimes to be conducting his business in the “swimming pool” (Freedman, p. 109). One personal observation made about the president was that “he was full of the fun of life” (Freedman, p. 109). It was also observed that it was when Roosevelt entered the White House that the place and life there became “so informal and easy going” (Freedman, p. 109). One strategy practiced by the president when he wanted to buy time to make a decision, was to go on talking with the person who was awaiting the same, until he could make his mind (Freedman, p. 111). To conclude, action has been the major theme of President Roosevelt’s first hundred days in office and he carried his responsibilities with courage, and composedness. References Alter, J. (2006). The defining moment: FDR's hundred days and the triumph of hope. New York: Simon and Schuster. Coker, J.W. (2005). Franklin D. Roosevelt: a biography. Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group. Digital Library. (2012). 1930s: the first 100 days. [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=468. Freedman, R. (1992). Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Fried, A. (2011). FDR and his enemies. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Pederson, W. D. (2011). A companion to Franklin D. Roosevelt. London: John Wiley & Sons. The American Presidency Project. (1999-2012). Franklin D. Roosevelt XXXII president of the United States: 1933-1945. [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?month=03&year=1933#axzz1tOnSaZWc. Read More