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AmericanHistoryOnline
CampaignSpeechonNewDealEconomics
Inthiscampaignspeech,deliveredinBostononOctober31,1932,Democratic
presidentialcandidateFranklinD.Rooseveltdescribedhiseconomicrecoveryplan,
collectivelyknownasthe"NewDeal."HechargedtheHooveradministrationwith
aggravatingvoters'fearsoverlosingjobswhilefailingto"meetthegreatemergency"
thattheGreatDepressionhadcreatedforAmericanworkers.Headdressed
unemploymentbypromotingthecreationofapublicworksprogram.Onfarmreform,
heclaimednottomake"onekindofspeechtoafarmaudienceandanotherkindof
speechtoacityaudience,"andadvocatedtariffbenefitsforfarmersinordertoraise
thepricestheyreceivedfortheirgoods.Rooseveltwontheelection,andenactedmany
ofthepoliciesintheNewDeal.

GovernorEly,MayorCurley,myfriendsofMassachusetts:
IamgladthatamomentagoIhadtheprivilegeofstandingundertheflagofthe
CommonwealthofMassachusetts.ThereisareasonwhyIamparticularlyproudand
happyofthat.Itisbecause,myfriends,exactlyonehalfofmemymother'shalf
comesfromMassachusetts.
ThistriptoNewEngland,Iassureyou,hasbroughtbackmanyhappymemories.I
havehadawonderfuldayfromtheearlymorningwhenIlefttheoldschoolwhichI
onceattendedand,where,Iamtold,Ireceivedsomekindofculture,allthewayup
throughLawrenceandHaverhill,andthenonthroughNewHampshireandto
Portland,Maineandthenthisafternoon,comingbackthroughthecitiesofMaine,
NewHampshireandbackintoMassachusetts.Iammorethaneverconvincedthat
thosethreeStatesthatIhavevisitedtodayaregoingtobefoundintheDemocratic
columnonNovember8th.
Ihavemetamultitudeofoldfriends,withwhomIhavebeenassociatedinpubliclife
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formoreyearsthanIcaretotellyou.IfIweretostartreferringtoeachofthemby
name,IshouldhavetocalltherollofMassachusettsDemocracy,andagoodmanyof
theRepublicansaswell.Iappreciatethefactthattoday,aweekbeforeelection,we
haveaunitedpartyapartywhich,insecuringagreatvictoryonNovember8th,will
besupportednotonlybyDemocratsbutbyfreespiritedRepublicanandindependent
voters.MyonlyregretisthatIcouldnothavebeenherelastThursdaynightwhen
GovernorSmithwashere.Anyway,theverydaythathewashereIhadagoodlongtalk
withhim,andIheardaboutthesplendidanddeservedwelcomeyougavehimherein
Boston.
Othermemories,too,havecomefromfarbackbeyondmyearliestpoliticalexperience.
Asaboy,IcametothisStateforeducation.TothateducationIlookbackwithopen
andsincereprideandgratitude.
ThenIcameandlivednotveryfarfromhereatagreatinstitutionforthefreeingofthe
humanmindfromignorance,frombigotryofthemindandthespirit.Knowledgethat
is,educationinitstruesenseisourbestprotectionagainstunreasoningprejudice
andpanicmakingfear,whetherengenderedbyspecialinterests,illiberalminorities,
orpanicstrickenleaderswhoseektoperpetuatethepowerwhichtheyhavemisused.
IhopeIhavelearnedthelessonthatreasonandtolerancehavetheirplaceinall
thingsandIwanttosayfranklythattheyareneversoappropriateaswhenthey
prevailinapoliticalcampaign.
IsaythiswithsomefeelingbecauseIexpresswidespreadopinionwhenInotethatthe
dignityoftheofficeofPresidentoftheUnitedStateshassufferedduringthepast
week.ThePresidentbeganthiscampaignwiththesameattitudewithwhichhehas
approachedsomanyoftheseriousproblemsofthepastthreeyears.Hesoughtto
createtheimpressionthattherewasnocampaigngoingonatall,justashehadsought
tocreatetheimpressionthatallwaswellwiththeUnitedStates,andthattherewasno
depression.
But,myfriends,thepeopleofthiscountryspoiledtheseplans.Theydemandedthat
theadministrationwhichtheyplacedinpowerfouryearsago,andwhichhascost
themsomuch,giveanaccounting.Theydemandedthisaccountinginnouncertain
terms.
Thisdemandofthepeoplehascontinueduntilithasbecomeanoverwhelming,
irresistibledriftofpublicopinion.Itismorethanadrift.Itisatempest.
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AsthatstormofapprovalfortheDemocraticpolicieshasgrown,severalmoodshave
comeovertheutterancesoftheRepublicanleader.
First,theywereplaintivelyapologetic.Thenthenextmovewasindignationatthe
CongressoftheUnitedStates.Finally,theyhaveindesperationresortedtothe
breedingofpanicandfear.
AtfirstthePresidentrefusedtorecognizethathewasinacontest.Butasthepeople
witheachsucceedingweekhaverespondedtoourprogramwithenthusiasm,he
recognizedthatwewerebothcandidates.Andthen,dignitydied.
AtIndianapolishespokeofmyarguments,misquotingthem.ButatIndianapolishe
wentfurther.Heabandonedargumentforpersonalities.
Inthepresenceofasituationlikethis,Iamtemptedtoreplyinkind.ButIshallnot
yieldtothetemptationtowhichthePresidentyielded.Onthecontrary,Ireiteratemy
respectforhispersonandforhisoffice.ButIshallnotbedeterredevenbythe
PresidentoftheUnitedStatesfromthediscussionofgravenationalissuesandfrom
submittingtothevotersthetruthabouttheirnationalaffairs,howeverunpleasantthat
truthmaybe.
Theballotistheindispensableinstrumentofafreepeople.Itshouldbethetrue
expressionoftheirwillanditisintolerablethattheballotshouldbecoerced
whatevertheformofcoercion,politicaloreconomic.
TheautocraticwillofnomanbehePresident,orgeneral,orcaptainofindustry
shalleverdestroythesacredrightofthepeoplethemselvestodeterminefor
themselveswhoshallgovernthem.
Anhourago,beforeIcametotheArena,Ilistenedinforafewminutestothefirstpart
ofthespeechofthePresidentinNewYorktonight.Oncemorehewarnedthepeople
againstchangingagainstanewdealstatingthatitwouldmeanchangingthe
fundamentalprinciplesofAmerica,whathecalledthesoundprinciplesthathavebeen
solongbelievedininthiscountry.Myfriends,myNewDealdoesnotaimtochange
thoseprinciples.Itdoesaimtobringthoseprinciplesintoeffect.
Secureintheirundyingbeliefintheirgreattraditionandinthesanctityofafreeballot,
thepeopleofthiscountrytheemployed,thepartiallyemployedandtheunemployed,
thosewhoarefortunateenoughtoretainsomeofthemeansofeconomicwellbeing,
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andthosefromwhomthesecruelconditionshavetakeneverythinghavestoodwith
patienceandfortitudeinthefaceofadversity.
Theretheystand.Andtheystandpeacefully,evenwhentheystandinthebreadline.
Theircomplaintsarenotmingledwiththreats.Theyarewillingtolistentoreasonat
alltimes.Throughoutthisgreatcrisisthestrickenarmyoftheunemployedhasbeen
patient,lawabiding,orderly,becauseitishopeful.
But,thepartythatclaimsasitsguidingtraditionthepatientandgenerousspiritofthe
immortalAbrahamLincoln,whenconfrontedbyanoppositionwhichhasgiventothis
Nationanorderlyandconstructivecampaignforthepastfourmonths,hasdescended
toanoutpouringofmisstatements,threatsandintimidation.
TheAdministrationattemptstounderminereasonthroughfearbytellingusthatthe
worldwillcometoanendonNovember8thifitisnotreturnedtopowerforfouryears
more.Oncemoreitisaleadershipthatisbankrupt,notonlyinidealsbutinideas.It
sadlymisconceivesthegoodsenseandtheselfrelianceofourpeople.
Theseleaderstellusfurtherthat,intheeventofchange,thepresentAdministration
willbeunabletoholdinchecktheeconomicforcesthatthreatenusintheperiod
betweenelectiondayandinaugurationday.TheythreatenAmericanbusinessand
AmericanworkerswithdiredestructionfromNovembertoMarch.
Theycrackthe"whipoffear"overthebacksofAmericanvoters,notonlyherebut
acrosstheseasaswell.
AmbassadorMellon,therepresentativeoftheUnitedStatesattheCourtofSt.James's,
anAmbassadorwhoshouldrepresentthewholeAmericanpeoplethereeveryfaith,
thewholeNation,Democrats,RepublicansandIndependentsalikeappealstoan
Englishaudience,onEnglishsoil,forthesupportofapartycandidate3000miles
away,andinvokesthesamesinisterthreatandseekstospreadthatthreattotherestof
thecivilizedworld.
IreadsomewhereinahistorybookaboutaRomanSenatorwhothrewhimselfintoa
chasmtosavehiscountry.Thesegentlemenwhorepresentusareofanewbreed.They
arewillingtothrowtheircountryintoachasmtosavethemselves.
ThereisanothermeansofspreadingfearthroughcertainRepublicanindustrial
leaders.Ihavesaid,withoutbeingcontroverted,that5000menineffectcontrol
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Americanindustry.Thesemen,possessedofsuchgreatpower,carrylikewiseagreat
responsibility.Itistheirdutytouseeveryprecautiontoseethatthispowerisnever
usedtodestroyortolimitthesoundpublicpolicyofthefreeanduntrammeled
exerciseofthepoweroftheballot.
Inviolationofthatduty,someofthese5000menwhocontrolindustryaretoday
invadingthesacredpoliticalrightsofthoseoverwhomtheyhaveeconomicpower.
TheyarejoininginthechorusoffearinitiatedbythePresident,bytheAmbassador,by
theSecretaryoftheTreasury,andbytheRepublicanNationalCommittee.
TheyaretellingtheiremployeesthatiftheyfailtosupporttheAdministrationof
PresidentHoover,suchjobsastheseemployeeshavewillbeindanger.Suchconductis
unAmericanandworthyofcensureattheballotbox.Iwonderhowsomeofthose
industrialleaderswouldfeelifsomebodyelse's"babyhadthemeasles."Inother
words,wouldtheyagreethatitwouldbeequallyreprehensibleifanypoliticalleader
weretoseekreprisalagainstthemagainstanycoercingemployerwhousedsuch
meansagainstpoliticalleaders?Letusfightourpoliticalbattleswithpolitical
arguments,andnotpreyuponmen'seconomicnecessities.
Afterall,theirthreatsareemptygestures.YouandIknowthattheirindustrieshave
beenslidingdownhill.Youknow,andIknow,thatthewholeprogramofthepresent
Administrationhasbeendirectedonlytopreventafurtherslippingdownhill.You
know,andIknow,thatthereinliesthedifferencebetweentheleadershipsofthetwo
parties.
Youknow,andIknow,thattheDemocraticPartyisnotsatisfiedmerelywitharresting
thepresentdecline.Ofcoursewewilldothattothebestofourabilitybutweare
equallyinterestedinseekingtobuildupandimprove,andtoputtheseindustriesina
positionwheretheirwheelswillturnoncemore,andwhereopportunitywillbegiven
tothemtoreemploythemillionsofworkersthattheyhavelaidoffunderthe
AdministrationofPresidentHoover.
Itisnotenoughmerelytostabilize,tolendmoney!Itisessentialtoincrease
purchasingpowerinorderthatgoodsmaybesold.Theremustbepeoplecapableof
buyinggoodsinorderthatgoodsmaybemanufacturedandsold.Whenthattime
comes,underournewleadership,thesesamegentlemenwhonowmaketheirthreats
willbefounddoingbusinessattheoldstandasusual.
TheAmericanvoter,theAmericanworkingmanandworkingwoman,themillworker
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ofNewEngland,themineroftheWest,therailroadworker,thefarmer,andthewhite
collarmanwillanswerthesesilly,spitefulthreatswiththeirballotsonNovember
eighth.
AsIhavepointedoutbeforeinthiscampaign,inagoodmanyStatesandduringmany
weeks,thefruitsofdepression,likethefruitsofwar,aregoingtobegatheredinfuture
generations.Itisnotthepinchofsuffering,theagonyofuncertaintythatthegrownup
peoplearenowfeelingthatcountthemostitistheheritagethatourchildrenmust
anticipatethattouchesamorevitalspot.Itisnottodayalonethatcounts.Under
nourishment,poorstandardsoflivingandinadequatemedicalcareoftodaywillmake
themselvesfeltamongourchildrenforfiftyyearstocome.
IstoodinTopeka,Kansas,twomonthsago,andsaidtothefarmersthatthetragic
effectsof40wheatand9cornand6cottonarenotsomuchwhatthefarmerhimself
mustfeelwhenheseesthelaborofhishandswastedonaproductthatdoesnotyield
himaliving,thatthebitternessofitalliswhatitmeansforhischildrenandfortheir
children.
Itisthesameforyouworkersinindustryandinbusiness.Therearenoneofuswho
donothopethatourchildrencangetabetterbreakthanwehavehad,thatthechance
foraneducation,forareasonablestartinlife,maybepassedontoourchildren,and
opportunityforthembuiltoutofthehardworkofourownhands.Wewanthimto
haveopportunityforprofitablecharacterbuildingdecent,wholesomelivinggood
work,andgoodplay.Wewanttoknowsomehowthat,whileperfectiondoesnotcome
inthisworld,wedotrytomakethingsbetterfromonegenerationtoanother.
ThatiswhyIemphasizethatthisdepression,withitsvastunemployment,hasswept
awaymuchofthematerialgainsthatwehadhopedtouse.Grimpovertystalks
throughoutourland.IknowitwellforIhaveseenit,allthewaytothecoastandback
again,asIhavetraveledupthelengthandbreadthof36StatesoftheUnion.It
embittersthepresentanddarkensthefuture.
Againstthisenemyeveryounceofeffortandeverynecessarypennyofwealthmustbe
raisedasadefense.Itisnotthatwelacktheknowledgeofwhattodo.Thetragedyof
thepastyearshasbeenthefailureofthosewhowereresponsibletotranslatehigh
soundingplansintopracticalaction.There'stherub.
ThepresentleadershipinWashingtonstandsconvicted,notbecauseitdidnothave
themeanstoplan,butfundamentallybecauseitdidnothavethewilltodo.Thatis
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whytheAmericanpeopleonNovembereighthwillregistertheirfirmconvictionthat
thisAdministrationhasutterlyandentirelyfailedtomeetthegreatemergency.
TheAmericanpeopleareaheartsickpeoplefor"hopedeferredmakeththeheart
sick."
Letmeofferyouanexample.In1921and1922therewasadepressionverymild,
comparedwiththepresentone,butnevertheless,adepression.Therewas,asyouwill
remember,alargeamountofunemployment.ThePresidentoftheUnitedStates,
PresidentHarding,inSeptember,1921,calledwhatwasknownasthe"President's
ConferenceonUnemployment,"thefirst,myfriends,ofalonganddistinguished
seriesofPresident'sconferences.ThisConferenceemployedanumberofexpertswho
preparedahighlycompetentreport.Ithappensthatthisreportdidnotappearuntil
afterthatdepressionwasendedwhichwasanothercharacteristicofthose
conferences.Thereportwaspublishedin1923,sixyearsbeforethepresentdepression
began.
Itsaidmanysoundthings.Itproposedthecontrolofcreditexpansionbythebanksit
proposedthepreventionofoverexpansionofindustryitproposedthecontrolof
publicandprivateconstructioninboomperiods,anditproposedsecurityagainstthe
sufferingthatmightcomefromunemployment.
Itwasagoodreport,myfriends.Soundandintelligentpeopleworkedonit,and
contributedtoit.
TheChairmanofthatUnemploymentConferencein1921wasthethenSecretaryof
CommerceoftheUnitedStates,SecretaryHerbertHoover.
ThePresidentcomplains,PresidentHerbertHoover,becauseIhavechargedthathe
didnothingforalongtimeafterthedepressionbegan.Irepeatthatcharge.Itistrue.I
canfurtheraddtothatchargebysayingthatfromthetimethisreportbySecretaryof
CommerceHooverwaspublishedin1923,forthesixyearsthatprecededthecrashin
1929,hedidnothingtoputintoeffecttheprovisionsadvocatedin1923againstthe
possibilityofafuturedepression.
Insteadofdoingsomethingduringthesesixyears,andespeciallythelastyearortwo,
heparticipatedinencouragingspeculation,whenthesoundbusinessbrainsofthe
countryweresayingthatspeculationshouldbediscouraged,andinspiteofthefact
thathisownreportin1923saidthatdepressionsareinlargepartduetoover
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speculation.Hefailedtopreparebypositiveactionagainsttherecurrenceofa
depression.Onthecontrarytheexactcontraryheintensifiedtheforcesthatmade
fordepressionsbyencouragingthatspeculation.
Hedidnotdowhatinhis1923reporthesaidoughttobedone.Insteadofthat,andon
topofthat,hedidwhathesaidoughtnottobedone.
Now,myfriends,weareconsideringunemploymenttonight,andIamgoingtostartby
settingforththepositivepolicywhichthePresident'sCommissionunderthe
leadershipoftheSecretaryofCommerceurgedshouldbedone.Thereisalotofit
whichisstillgood.
Itwasa5pointprogram.Andasaprogramitwasgood.
First,iturgedthatGovernmentshouldreduceexpendituresforpublicworksduring
periodsofprosperity,andthat,duringthoseperiods,Governmentshouldbuildup
reserveswithwhichtoincreaseexpendituresduringperiodsofunemploymentand
industrialdepression.Butwasthatdone?Notonepenny'sworth.Noreserveswere
builtupfortherainyday.
Second,thereportsaidthattheFederalGovernmentshouldworkwiththerailroadsin
thepreparationofalongtimeconstructiveprogram.Wasthatdone?No.The
RepublicanAdministrationdidnotgiveeffecttothisproposal.Insteadofworkingwith
therailroads,toconsolidatetheirlinesandputthemonasound,economicalbasis,the
Administrationwaiteduntilthedepressionhadlaidthemlow,andthenhadnothing
forthemexcepttoloanthemmoremoney,whentheywerealreadyheavilyindebt.
Third,thereportproposedthesettingupofsafeguardsagainsttoorapidinflation,and
consequentlytoorapiddeflationofbankcredit.AsIhaveshown,thePresidentandhis
SecretaryoftheTreasurywenttotheotherextremeandencouragedspeculation.
Fourth,thereportrecommendedanadequatesystemofunemploymentinsurance.No
oneintheAdministrationinWashingtonhasassumedanyleadershipinordertobring
aboutpositiveactionbytheStatestomakethisunemploymentinsuranceareality.
Someday,inourleadership,wearegoingtogetit.
Fifth,itsuggestedanadequatesystemofpublicemploymentoffices.ButwhenSenator
WagnerintroducedabilltoestablishFederalemploymentoffices,PresidentHoover
vetoedthemeasurethatSecretaryHerbertHooverhadsponsored.Itseemstome,
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speakinginthisgreatsectionofthecountrywheretherearesomanybusinessmen,
thatbusinessmenwhobelieveinsoundplanningandaction,mustfeelthatthereis
dangertothecountryinthecontinuanceofaleadershipthathasshownsuch
incapacity,suchineptitude,suchheedlessnessofcommonsenseandofsoundbusiness
principles.WhatweneedinWashingtonislessfactfindingandmorethinking.
Immediatereliefoftheunemployedistheimmediateneedofthehour.Nomere
emergencymeasuresofreliefareadequate.Wemustdoallwecan.Wehave
emergencymeasuresbutweknowthatourgoal,ourunremittingobjective,mustbeto
securenottemporaryemploymentbutthepermanenceofemploymenttotheworkers
ofAmerica.Withoutlongrangestabilityofemploymentforourworkers,withouta
balancedeconomybetweenagricultureandindustry,therecanbenohealthynational
life.
Wehavetwoproblems:first,tomeettheimmediatedistresssecond,tobuildupona
basisofpermanentemployment.
Asto"immediaterelief,"thefirstprincipleisthatthisNation,thisnational
Government,ifyoulike,owesapositivedutythatnocitizenshallbepermittedto
starve.Thatmeansthatwhiletheimmediateresponsibilityforreliefrests,ofcourse,
withlocal,publicandprivatecharity,insofarastheseareinadequatetheStatesmust
carryontheburden,andwhenevertheStatesthemselvesareunableadequatelytodo
sotheFederalGovernmentowesthepositivedutyofsteppingintothebreach.
Itisworthwhilenotingthatfromthatdisastroustimeof1929onthepresent
RepublicanAdministrationtookadefinitepositionagainsttherecognitionofthat
principle.ItwasonlybecauseoftheinsistenceoftheCongressoftheUnitedStatesand
theunmistakablevoiceofthepeopleoftheUnitedStatesthatthePresidentyielded
andapprovedtheNationalReliefBillthissummer.
Inadditiontoprovidingemergencyrelief,theFederalGovernmentshouldandmust
providetemporaryworkwhereverthatispossible.YouandIknowthatinthenational
forests,onfloodprevention,andonthedevelopmentofwaterwayprojectsthathave
alreadybeenauthorizedandplannedbutnotyetexecuted,tensofthousands,andeven
hundredsofthousandsofourunemployedcitizenscanbegivenatleasttemporary
employment.
Third,theFederalGovernmentshouldexpeditetheactualconstructionofpublic
worksalreadyauthorized.Thecountrywouldbehorrifiedifitknewhowlittle
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constructionworkauthorizedbythelastCongressandapprovedbythePresidenthas
actuallybeenundertakenonthisdate,the31stofOctober.AndIstatetoyouthe
simplefactthatmuchoftheworkforwhichCongresshasgivenauthoritywillnotbe
underwayandgivingemploymenttopeopleuntilsometimenextsummer.
Finally,inthatlargerfieldthatlooksfurtherahead,wecallforacoordinatedsystemof
employmentexchanges,theadvanceplanningofpublicworks,andunemployment
reserves.Who,then,istocarryonthesemeasuresandseethemthrough?Thefirst,
employmentexchanges,isclearlyandinescapablyataskoftheFederalGovernment,
althoughitwillrequiretheloyalandintelligentcooperationofStateandlocalagencies
throughouttheland.TothatFederalactionIpledgemyadministration.Thesecond,
theadvanceplanningofpublicworks,againcallsforastrongleadonthepartofthe
GovernmentatWashington.Ipledgemyadministrationtotheadoptionofthat
principle,bothastoenterprisesoftheFederalGovernmentitselfandasto
constructionwithintheseveralStateswhichismadepossiblebyFederalaidandI
shallurgeuponStateandlocalauthoritiesthroughouttheNationthattheyfollowthis
exampleinWashington.Thethird,unemploymentreserves,mustunderoursystemof
GovernmentbeprimarilytheresponsibilityoftheseveralStates.That,theDemocratic
platform,onwhichIstand,makesentirelyclear.
Inadditiontoallthis,therehasbeenlongoverdueareductionofthehoursofwork
andareductionofthenumberofworkingdaysperweek.Afterall,thegreatest
justificationofmodernindustryisthelesseningofthetoilofmenandwomen.These
fruitswillbedeadfruitsunlessmenearnenoughsothattheycanbuythethingsthat
areproduced,sothattheycanhavetheleisureforthecultivationofbody,mindand
spirit,whichthegreatinventionsaresupposedtomakepossible.Thatmeansthat
Governmentitselfmustsetanexampleinthecaseofitsownemployees.Itmeansalso
thatGovernmentmustexertitspersuasiveleadershiptoinduceindustrytodo
likewise.
Herethenisaprogramoflongrangeplanningwhichrequirespromptanddefinite
actionandthecooperationofFederalandStateandlocalGovernments,aswellasof
forwardlookingcitizensofbothpartiesthroughouttheland.Theproposalsare
specific,theyarefarreaching.Toadvocatealessdrasticprogramwouldbetomisread
thelessonsofthedepressionandtoexpressindifferencetothecountry'sfuture
welfare.
Thereisonefinalobjectiveofmypolicywhichismorevitalandmorebasicthanall
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else.IseektorestorethepurchasingpoweroftheAmericanpeople.Thereturnofthat
purchasingpower,andonlythat,willputAmericabacktowork.
Weneedtorestoreourtradewiththeworld.UnderRepublicanleadershipwehave
lostit,andthePresidentoftheUnitedStatesseemstobeindifferentaboutfindingit
again.
AndnowIamgoingtotalktoacityaudienceaboutfarming.Idonotmakeonekindof
speechtoafarmaudienceandanotherkindofspeechtoacityaudience.Weneedto
givetofiftymillionpeople,wholivedirectlyorindirectlyonagriculture,apricefor
theirproductsinexcessofthecostofproduction.Youknowhowandwhythataffects
youinthecities.Togivethemanadequatepricefortheirproductsmeanstogivethem
thebuyingpowernecessarytostartyourmillsandminestoworktosupplytheir
needs.Fiftymillionpeoplecannotbuyyourgoods,becausetheycannotgetafairprice
fortheirproducts.Youarepoorbecausetheyarepoor.
Ifavoranddonotletthefalsestatementsofmyopponentsdeceiveyoucontinued
protectionforAmericanagricultureaswellasAmericanindustry.Ifavor,morethan
that,Iadvocate,andwillcontinuetoadvocate,measurestogivethefarmeranadded
benefit,calledatariffbenefit,tomakethetariffeffectiveonhisproducts.Whatgood
doesa42centtariffonwheatmeantothefarmerwhenheisgetting30centsabushel
onhisfarm?Thatisajoke.ThemostenlightenedofmodernAmericanbusinessmen
likewisefavorsuchatariffbenefitforagriculture.Anexcellentexampleisyourown
fellowBostonian,Mr.Harriman,PresidentoftheChamberofCommerceoftheUnited
States,whohasrecentlyproclaimedaplanfortherestorationofagriculturenotunlike
myown.
ThePresidentoftheUnitedStatesdoesnotfavoraprogramofthatkind,or,sofarasI
canmakeout,ofanypracticalkind.HehasclosedthedoorofhopetoAmerican
agriculture,andwhenhedidthat,heclosedthedoorofhopetoyoualso.
Hesaysproudlythathehaseffectivelyrestrictedimmigrationinordertoprotect
Americanlabor.IfavorthatbutImightaddthatintheenforcementofthe
immigrationlawstoomanyabusesagainstindividualfamilieshavebeenrevealedtime
andtimeagain.
ButwhenthePresidentspeakstoyou,hedoesnottellyouthatbypermitting
agriculturetofallintoruinmillionsofworkersfromthefarmshavecrowdedintoour
cities.Thesemenhaveaddedtounemployment.Theyareherebecauseagricultureis
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prostrate.Arestoredagriculturewillcheckthismigrationfromthefarm.Itwillkeep
thesefarmershappily,successfully,athomeanditwillleavemorejobsforyou.Itwill
provideamarketforyourproducts,andthatisthekeytonationaleconomic
restoration.
Onewordmore.Ihavespokenofgettingthingsdone.Thewaywegetthingsdone
underourformofGovernmentisthroughjointactionbythePresidentandthe
Congress.ThetwobranchesofGovernmentmustcooperateifwearetomoveforward.
ThatisnecessaryunderourConstitution,andIbelieveinourconstitutionalformof
Government.
ButthePresidentoftheUnitedStatescannotgetactionfromtheCongress.Heseems
unabletocooperate.HequarreledwithaRepublicanCongressandhequarreledwitha
halfRepublicanCongress.HewillquarrelwithanykindofCongress,andhecannot
getthingsdone.
Thatissomethingthatthevotershaveconsideredandareconsideringandaregoingto
rememberoneweekfromtomorrow.YouandIknow,anditiscertainlyafact,thatthe
nextCongresswillbeDemocratic.Ilookforwardtocooperatingwithit.Iamconfident
thatIcangetthingsdonethroughcooperationbecauseforfouryearsIhavehadto
workwithaRepublicanLegislatureinNewYork.
IhavebeenabletogetthingsdoneinAlbanybytreatingtheRepublicanmembersof
theLegislaturelikehumanbeingsandasmyassociatesinGovernment.Ihavesaid
thatIlookforwardtothemostpleasantrelationswiththenextDemocraticCongress,
butinadditiontothatletmemakeitclearthatonthatgreatmajorityofnational
problemswhichoughtnottobehandledinanypartisanmanner,Iconfidentlyexpect
tohavepleasantrelationswithRepublicansintheSenateandtheHouseof
RepresentativesaswellaswithDemocrats.
AfterthefourthofMarch,wemeaningtherebythePresidentandthemembersof
bothpartiesintheHallsofCongresswill,Iamconfident,worktogethereffectively
fortherestorationofAmericaneconomiclife.
Ideclinetoacceptpresentconditionsasinevitableorbeyondcontrol.Ideclinetostop
atsaying,"Itmighthavebeenworse."IshalldoallthatIcantopreventitfrombeing
worsebutandhereisthecleardifferencebetweenthePresidentandmyselfIgoon
topledgeactiontomakethingsbetter.
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TheUnitedStatesofAmericahasthecapacitytomakethingsbetter.TheNationwants
tomakethingsbetter.TheNationpraysfortheleadershipofactionthatwillmake
thingsbetter.ThatwillbeshownineveryStateintheUnionall48ofthemaweek
fromtomorrow.Wearethroughwith"Delay"wearethroughwith"Despair"weare
ready,andwaitingforbetterthings.

CitationInformation
Roosevelt,FranklinD."CampaignSpeechonNewDealEconomics."PrimarySource
Documents:1930to1939.NewYork:FactsOnFile,2014.AmericanHistoryOnline.
Web.13Apr.2015.<http://online.infobase.com/HRC/Search/Print?
assetId=6102&assetType=primarySource&citeType=none>.
Copyright2015InfobaseLearning.AllRightsReserved.

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