Franklin D. Roosevelt's Fireside Chats Still an Inspiration

On Sunday, March 12, 1933 newly inaugurated President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave the first of a series of what became known as Fireside Chats. America was in the midst of a Great Depression. Unemployment was high, investment was low, families were losing their home and farms, and bank holidays were being declared when there was not enough money to pay out to people who were trying to make withdrawals. Americans were in a state of desperation. Life was hard and the future seemed bleak.

Seeing a nation is great need of hope, inspiration, and motivation FDR desired to address the needs and questions of Americans in a personalized way. The Fireside Chats were broadcast over radio stations and the president's voice entered the homes of most Americans. Roosevelt explained the ways he was trying to pull the nation out of the Depression in a language common Americans could understand. He did not speak down to the population but he did not use big words and technical terms that only politicians would understand either. Her referred to Americans as friends and told why certain events were taking place and why Americans should not be afraid. He believed that getting the nation back on track needed to be a joint effort of the government and the people and expressed this clearly. Many Americans were calmed by their president's words and voice and FDR was able to make people feel as if he was one of them and not just a person in charge.

The financial crisis taking place today is not as bad as it was in 1933 but America is indeed in a recession. Families are losing their homes to foreclosure, unemployment rates are up, credit is hard to come by, and businesses are closing doors. Newly inaugurated Barack Obama is following the example of FDR in a technologically advanced way. He is comforting, encouraging, and informing Americans of the government's plans and actions that are being taken to help the United States' economy regain its former stability. President Obama is addressing the Nation through a White House website. Here there is a section in which President Obama addresses the nation via a video blog. He addresses the nation weekly and his words are hopeful and not dissimilar to the type of language used by FDR over seventy years ago. He speaks on the video as if her were speaking to a friend and desires to make the public aware of all actions taken by government. He also speaks of hope and a bright future in a time of fear.

Like his presidential predecessor President Barack Obama is striving to understand the people and let Americans know that he is one of them. Like FDR, President Obama is bringing his voice into American homes and giving hope in a time of crisis.