DEMOCRATIC ICON

FDR’s 1930s Speeches Are Sadly Just As Relevant Today

And Republicans are just as opposed to a strong, capable, and popular government as they were then.

The following are quotes from Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s 1936 “Madison Square Garden Speech” he gave just a few days before his second election victory.

Unfortunately, his words are pretty much a speech President Joe Biden could repeat verbatim with just as much relevance today:

“In 1932 the issue was the restoration of American democracy; and the American people were in a mood to win. They did win. In 1936 the issue is the preservation of their victory. Again they are in a mood to win. Again they will win.”

The stock market crash and the beginning of the Great Depression were pretty bad for American democracy, but January 6th and Donald Trump’s abject refusal to peacefully transfer power were a more acute threat to American democracy. Thanks for winning, Joe Biden!

“It is needless to repeat the details of the program which this Administration has been hammering out on the anvils of experience. No amount of misrepresentation or statistical contortion can conceal or blur or smear that record. Neither the attacks of unscrupulous enemies nor the exaggerations of over-zealous friends will serve to mislead the American people.”

Biden gets very little credit for his executive and legislative accomplishments, but his first two years rank pretty high in presidential history. Particularly because only Barack Obama faced as much mindlessly partisan opposition since perhaps Lyndon Johnson forced the South to finally recognize Black Americans’ civil rights.

“For twelve years this Nation was afflicted with hear-nothing, see-nothing, do-nothing Government. The Nation looked to Government but the Government looked away. […] Powerful influences strive today to restore that kind of government with its doctrine that that Government is best which is most indifferent. For nearly four years you have had an Administration which instead of twirling its thumbs has rolled up its sleeves. We will keep our sleeves rolled up.”