FDR Talk | FDR: His life, his times, his legacy

Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his many Stamps

A repeated tribute to a great president

Over the years Franklin Delano Roosevelt has had 9 United States Postage stamps made in his honor. This is further proof that he was beloved and respected as a president for many presidents are lucky to have even one stamp in their honor, in fact several US presidents have walked through the doors of the White House without ever having the United States Post office pay tribute with a stamp.

For FDR, having his own stamp would have meant even more to him. He was an avid stamp collector during his time. It has even been said that he would pull out his stamps and use them as a way to reduce tension and relax during his trying presidential years.

Unfortunately, FDR was never given the chance to have the stamps created in his honor unveiled before him for the first FDR stamps followed his death in 1945, with more coming in 1946. The stamp series was called death of a President, a little dark I know, though this stamp series emerged during a dark time. The entire series includes a 1,2,3 and 5 cent stamp is certainly coveted by many stamp collectors as it can be difficult to find a complete set.

The US Post Office then went on to issue to 6 cent FDR stamps, one in 1966 and the other in 1968. There weren't any significant reasons for the issue of the two FDR 6 cent stamps, however his following stamps were tied to specific historical events. In 1982 a 20 cent stamp was created for Roosevelt’s 100^th birthday. Following FDR's birthday a 22 cent stamp was issued in 1986 for the Ameripex 86 International Stamp show, certainly as a tribute to FDR's own history of stamp collecting. The last FDR stamp was issued in 1998 and was part of a series of 15 stamps titled Celebrate the Century, this series had all many major events from the century including not only FDR, also Superman.

The Artwork that Franklin Delano Roosevelt Inspired from Artist of his Day

A print collection that gives us a look into a different time

When we think of life during FDR’s presidency we are usually filled with images of dislocated families and people living on the brink of starvation. That image is commonly replaced with new images of road workers, new farmers and a multitude of factory workers. We often overlook creative expression during his time, when in fact creative expression was at the heart of his economic programs.

There were numerous art pieces depicting how America was restoring itself through hard work during FDR’s time. Some artist used various methods to depict the buildings and trades workers, creating powerful pieces that would recreate an image to that time in history long after that time had passed. The print pictured is titled Amateurs and was an original wood carving by artist Paul H. Landacre and is part of the At Work expedition.

Within this collection of prints are also several pieces that represent the FDR agriculture program. These prints show us all a time in history that allowed people to work their land physically by hand, unlike farming today with our technological advances. Jackson Pollock created the lithograph that is pictured in the print titled Stacking Hay, the original was dated between 1935 and 1936.

The Lithograph titled Strike News by artist Minna Citron is one of my favorite prints out of this collection. It expresses a darker side than the other prints and evokes feelings of sadness and uncertainty whereas the others remind us of hope and strength. This collection is a passage to a different time and a representation of the work of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

What FDR’s New Deal Program Consisted of

From farming to financial restructuring to worker protection and everything in between

FDR’s New Deal program helped to restore America during the Great Depression. The Great Depression was a critical time in US history and threatened the livelihood of many Americans. The FDR New Deal program consisted of 14 individual government programs that tackled economic problems in each sector of American life.

Farming

The FDR New Deal program consisted of two farming sections that benefited farmers across the nation. The Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933 had the greatest impact, it protected farmers by providing crop subsidies to counteract crop price reductions caused by an overabundance of supply that went beyond public demand. It also provided educational programs to help farmers with common farm difficulties that can often arise.

The Rural Electrification Administration of 1935 was also part of the FDR New Deal Program that was aimed at improving farm life. It was the first government based program that encouraged farmer cooperatives and was aimed at getting electricity to every farm. Unfortunately it took years to get farmers to jump on board and therefore didn’t create a large impact until long after the FDR New Deal era.

Job Creation

The FDR New Deal programs consisted of several sections that were aimed at job creation. The Civil Works Administration, the Public Works Administration and the Workers progress Administration were all designed to put workers back to work in public works and building trades. All together these programs were estimated to place over 12.5 million workers, who had previously either been unemployed or near a point of unemployment and unable to feed themselves or their families.

The Civilian Conservation Corps and the National Youth Administration was also part of the FDR New Deal Program that led to the creation of jobs. The Civilian Conservation Corps placed many young men in work camps that would restore America’s national forestry areas, the CCC was a lifesaver for many people who lived in areas throughout America that lacked the convenience of being near a city.

The national Youth Administration was the FDR New Deal Programs way of creating jobs for those who would normally be passed up in a time of desperation for individuals who had the responsibility of feeding and providing care for a family. The NYA created part time opportunities for individuals who were enrolled in either college or high school.

Protection for Workers

There were two main acts that were part of the FDR New Deal program that provided protection for workers, the National Industrial Recovery Act and the Wagner Act. The NIRA created labor codes to ensure a fairness among all workers. It was also the beginning of minimum wage which is still enforced today.

The Wagner Act was probably one of the best acts created to protect American workers. It prevented management from exploiting American workers by making union-busting illegal. Additionally it made the possibility of joining a union available for all workers. The Wagner Act was the first step in promoting union protection among workers.

Direct Payments

Two essential segments of the FDR New Deal Program provided direct financial relief to the American public, the Social Security Act and the Federal Emergency Relief Act. The Social Security Act provided financial aid to any American that was disabled or blind. It also aided dependent children. One way that it particularly helped is that it created a form of a pension for retired workers, before the Social Security Act the burden of caring financially for the elderly fell on family members.

The Federal Emergency Relief Act was an essential part of the FDR New Deal Program. It provided financial assistance to any unemployed worker. It is still used today and like during the Great Depression, it is often the difference between struggling but making it and losing everything and not being able to survive a difficult financial time created by job loss.

Financial Restructuring

The FDR New Deal Program restored and restructured the American financial market. The FDIC, known as the Glass-Steagall Act was created to protect individual finances from loss in the event that a bank crashes. To further protect American finances the Securities and Exchange Commission was created, which regulated practices within the stock market. The final Financial based part of the FDR New Deal Program was the creation of the TN Valley Authority, this destroyed private entity monopolization from companies that sold electricity. It was the first time in history that the government stepped into the utility market and made electricity available to consumer, this prevented financial burdens of the American public who were previously forced to pay higher prices.

The Strange Surrounding of the FDR Assassination Attempt

Poverty, Politics and the Mob

Earlier this week, February 15^th was the 79^th anniversary of the infamous FDR assassination attempt. The attempt took place in Miami and resulted in numerous injuries, a death and an execution. This presidential assignation attempt intertwines with early mobster rumors that circled around the famed Chicago mobster Al Capone.

Giuseppe Zangara was an Italian born immigrant that was once rumored to be connected with Al Capone, this rumor gained strength through media attention over the fact that the mayor of Chicago Anton Cermak had been shot in the assassination attempt of FDR and had later died from his gunshot wound. It was also believed that the Chicago mayor Anton Cermak was not favored by the mob and actually could be considered a heavy thorn in their side, a result of Anton Cermak’s battle to clean up the Chicago streets.

The actual shooting took place at Bayfront Park, Giuseppe Zangara fired his gun 6 times and wounded a total of 5 people including the shot that had led to the murder of Anton Cermak. Giuseppe Zangara was executed on March 20, 1933 just over a month from the time that he chose to fire his gun at Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Even though it was originally rumored that Giuseppe Zangara wasn’t attempting to assassinate Franklin Roosevelt and was simply carrying out mob orders to take out the current Chicago mayor no evidence was ever able to confirm those rumors, oddly those rumors are still circulated today.

As the investigation went on, it became clear that Giuseppe Zangara suffered from both physical and mental ailments. In addition he blamed politics for his difficult time with trying to survive in an economy that was going down fast. I wonder if he would have changed his tune, had he given the President-elect Franklin Delano Roosevelt time to take office and make the economic changes that he would eventually achieve.

How Would FDR Fare Today?

He did it before he certainly would be able to do it again

FDR made some amazing progress during his presidency. He made progress at a time when America was facing a crippling economic crisis. Today we again face a spiraling economy, with politicians that talk big yet do little. What if FDR was here today? How would he fare?

During FDR’s presidency he lowered the unemployment rate from 21.7 to 19.0, his lowest point was 16.9 in 1936 although it had shifted up slightly during the end of his presidency. Since FDR’s time in office, the unemployment rate has fluctuated up and down usually within 1 to 2 degrees. The last couple of years have strayed from this pattern, with a jump of 3.5 in 2009.

FDR’s highest point of 21.7 to his lowest point of 16.9 is a decrease of 4.8, not much more than the amount that it had raised between 2008 and 2009. So how exactly did he do it? To start with he took immediate action to put people back to work.

In 1933 he created the CWA and the CCC. The CWA (Civil Works Administration ) was created to promote construction based jobs. During the depression, construction work was considered as a high paying job category. The CCC ( Civilian Conservation Corps ) created jobs across the nation building structures, public works and trails within our national parks. Many Americans went back to work under these programs, ultimately reducing the unemployment rate and stimulating the economy.

He also took specific steps to get banks to give back home loans, this also helped the unemployment by providing people with a home so that they were able to work. Today people are being foreclosed on by banks that are unwilling to take any more chances. Personally I think part of that problem falls right into mortgage cost.

For an example the average 3 bedroom home today cost $100,000, give or take a little by age and location. Our current average income level is $40,000, which means if the average American gave half of their income to the bank for their house it would take 5 years to pay off their house that is without considering interest. In FDR’s time the average 3 Bedroom was $4750 with an average income of $4420. If the average American during FDR’s time gave half of their income to banks to buy their house they could have it paid off in just over two years, again this doesn’t include interest.

The one thing that maid FDR’s plan of attack work is regulation. He regulated banks and business to protect the American people. Today banks and business work off of practices that favor them. This puts one American after another at risk and has been a large part of our current situation.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his Women

FDR changed Women Rights Forever...

Franklin Delano Roosevelt accomplished many things throughout his political career. Many people who lived through his pregnancy may have even believed that he saved America through all of his accomplishments. As a result he is credited for greatness as a president. One aspect of FDR that’s often overlooked is his impact on women and women rights.

"Frances Perkins became the Secretary of Labor in 1933, making her the first woman ever appointed to the US Cabinet." She was known to have helped FDR improve labor practices, many of the labor practices that were forged during that time are still used today. She remained in office throughout FDR’s presidency.

Appointing the first woman to the US cabinet was a great move for FDR, however that wasn’t his greatest impact for women. It was during the FDR presidency that woman became the fiber of America. According to American history "350,000 women served in the US military", either at home or overseas. At the very same time that women were dedicated themselves to the war movement, women at home were joining the work force.

When the war ended, women were pushed out of their jobs and sent back to the kitchen, however life for women would never return to what it had once been. The brief time that FDR gave American women to work in the same positions that their fellow men had worked previously had sparked a new passion inside of women across the nation. The battle of women rights had developed steam like never before, and gave way to our right to work today. If FDR didn’t have the foresight to fill American jobs with women there is a good chance that the women rights movement would have taken even longer, slowing the entire history of women.

FDR American Badass - Definite Must See

Certain to be one of the best comedies ever

Rarely do I get to discuss FDR with humor so naturally I jumped on this opportunity. The FDR American Badass trailer is available for viewing. I just finished watching it and I’m giving it a must-see status.

As of yet there is no release date, however IMDB does have it listed as postproduction so it should be coming soon for all to see. Judging by the trailer, it’s certain to be a comic hit. This movie truly has it all.

In the movie, Franklin Delano Roosevelt is portrayed in a light we’ve never seen. FDR was originally attacked by werewolves that became the cause of his development of polio. Upon further investigation it became all too clear that the werewolf that bit him was from Germany. This was deduced by a swastika tattoo found on the werewolf’s chest.

In an effort to stop the Nazi Werewolves America followed FDR into war, World War II to be exact. He stood strong refusing to back down until every Nazi Werewolf was stopped and Every American was safe. The movie makers even gave FDR a wheelchair fit only for a true American Badass.

As with any movie trailer, you only get bits and pieces. As a result I’m unable to give a true account of this upcoming movie, however I do feel confident in saying that it’s certain to be one of the greatest comedies ever, after all it has Nazi Werewolves that alone makes it hilarious and epic. I can’t wait to see it and I will be adding an update once I do.

5 FDR Accomplishments that Changed America

His accomplishments are still used today in one degree or another

Franklin D Roosevelt is still one the most remembered and honored presidents. He is remembered by many from his presidency that are still currently alive. He is also remembered from those who came after him through everything that history has taught. He is mainly remembered and honored due to the many accomplishments that he has made, these are his greatest accomplishments.

He created the FDIC, which is still used in our banking system today to ensure the security of individual accounts. Before the FDIC was formed many people were pulling their money out of the banks, due primarily to the fear that their money could at any time disappear. After the FDIC was formed people slowly began deposit money back into the banking system.

He also formed the Civil Works Program also known as the CWA. This placed many unemployed workers back into the workforce. The CWA was a public works program that built and repaired roads, parks, airports and many other needed structures.

FDR implemented the National Industrial Recovery Act, known as the NIRA. The NIRA did several things to improve working standards. One rather important thing that it created was the minimum wage that we still use to guarantee a set minimum hourly wage.

One rather accomplishment that he made while in office was created the Fair labor Standards Act. This Act set child labor laws. This eliminated the unfair exploitation of child workers.

FDR was also responsible for abolishing prohibition. This is often left out of his accomplishments, though I personally am very glad that I can have a drink from time to time when I feel like it without having to sneak in to one of those shady looking “speakeasies”. Not to mention that the sale of alcohol probably reinvented several jobs across the nation including manufacturing, distribution and service.

FDR Fireside Chats Opened the Presidency to the Public

One fireside chat to another

Fredrick Delano Roosevelt made some amazing changes throughout his political career. He took many drastic steps for the sake of saving the citizens of the United States. There were several things he did that no president before him had ever attempted. One particular thing he chose to do that was fresh and had in its own way changes the view of presidents was conducting his popular fireside chats.

FDR’s fireside chats showed the public a new president, a caring president. They kept the public aware of current issues that the country was facing and what actions were going to be taken. Fireside chats went beyond providing awareness and made the president a person, a colleague even.

Gone were the days of presidential actions being performed behind closed doors. The days of only seeing and hearing from the president during campaign trails were a thing of the past. FDR was speaking loud and clear on a regular basis to address the nations concerns, it didn’t matter if a person lived in Washington, Texas or Utah, they were going to have a chance to hear the president discuss his plan of action to dissolve the problems that each American faced.

Since the day of FDR’s first fireside chat many presidents have followed him in one form or another. John F Kennedy used broadcasting to discuss his civil rights initiatives. Presidential announcements have been a regular part of many presidencies and President Obama, our current president uses YouTube to perform his version of FDRs Fireside Chats.

FDR Words of Fear

Should they move with strength they will gain accomplishments

FDR speaks to me from the grave. Well at least his words of strength echo as I look out at the turmoil that this country faces. One of FDR’s famous quotes spoken during his first inaugural address was “ the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

I wonder if the republicans and democrats currently fighting in office would remember those words, if they wouldn’t be able to stand with strength and communicate like the respected politicians that they are. The politicians of our nation are supposed to be a vision of strength and certainty. They are supposed to be trusted leaders with a solid demeanor.

Turn on the news and you’ll see grown politicians bickering like children. These are the men and women who have the responsibility of running are country. These are the elected men and women that we as a nation have chosen to lead our country and stand strong in any storm. These are the men of women that have bowed down to fear.

So I repeat in the words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. If our politicians take on bravery as their shield they can make progress. They should embrace their fears and stand out away from the crowd, away from popular demand. It is now that they must overcome all of their fears and take action. This will quiet the loud rumble of Washington and create once again a nation that is held together through strength, a nation that stands tall in the face of doubt.

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