2. The influence of Roosevelt
Roosevelt’s first term, 1933-36
Inaugurated president in March 1933, Roosevelt remained president for the rest of his life, winning a total of four presidential elections.
Roosevelt’s character
In 1921, Roosevelt had been stricken with polio, losing the use of his legs. Remaining cheerful and optimistic, he refused to let this disability end his political career. The complexities of his character baffled contemporaries and still baffle historians. On the one hand, he projected extraordinary charm and warmth. But he could also be evasive and devious. Historian Ted Morgan described him as ‘part lion, part fox’.
Roosevelt and the New Deal
In his inaugural address, Roosevelt gave Americans hope that he would improve the economic situation. Taking advice from his formal cabinet and his ‘Brain Trust’, Roosevelt supported a host of measures to get Americans back to work. One of his strengths was his receptiveness to new ideas. He was also able to ‘sell’ these ideas of Congress and the public. Projecting a sense of utter self-confidence, he proved himself a masterly politician, reconciling the conflicting views of his reform-minded supporters. By no means were all his New Deal measures successful. But some were and slowly the US economy improved.
The 1936 election
In 1936, Roosevelt was re-nominated on a platform promising more reform. Republican candidate Alfred Landon wanted to reduce public spending and balance the budget. During the bitterly fought campaign, Roosevelt seemed to go out of his way to stir up class hatreds. His strategy worked. he won nearly 61 per cent of the popular vote and carried every state except two. The Democrats totally dominated both houses of Congress.
Roosevelt’s second term, 1937-40
FDR’s second term was less successful than his first as he had to deal with increased opposition:
Roosevelt’s attempt to reform the Supreme Court led to a storm of protest. He was accused of seeking to overthrow the balance of the Constitution.
Roosevelt’s Court plan shattered Democratic unity. It convinced many Democrats (particularly southerners) that Roosevelt had dictatorial ambitions. After 1937, he found it hard to win support in Congress for his measures.
The 1940 election
Roosevelt stood for an unprecedented third time for the presidency in 1940. Given the foreign situation, the USA needed an experienced pair of hands. Helped by the start of a war boom, Roosevelt won almost 55 per cent of the popular vote - 449 Electoral College votes compared to 82 for his Republican opponent Wendell Wilkie.
Roosevelt’s third and fourth terms
Roosevelt’s last two terms were dominated by the USA’s entry into the Second World War in December 1941. Roosevelt proved to be a brilliant war leader. He delegated well and had an excellent grasp of the war’s overall direction. Aided by his Chief of Staff Marshall, he made virtually all the right strategic decisions - defeating Germany first, supporting an invasion of France and financing the project that led to the atomic bomb’s production.
The 1944 election
In November 1944, Roosevelt won his fourth presidential election. He did so with fewer votes than in 1940, a sign that opinion was moving to the right.
Roosevelt’s death
In April 1945, Roosevelt died suddenly. He had served the USA at a crucial time. Roosevelt has proved to be a polarising figure. While some consider him to be the twentieth century’s most hated president, for others he was the most loved.