Letters to FDR
Abandoned farms.
Shuttered retail stores.
Migrant families.
“Hooverville” shantytowns.
Bread lines.
Riding the rails in search of work.
To all of the people swept up in the nation’s downward spiral, Franklin Roosevelt offered a ‘new deal’ when he became president in 1933.
And he delivered.
Some people were grateful; others were angry.
And FDR received letters from both.
An angry letter.
Sir:
“Your latest piece of glorified propaganda – miscalled fireside chats – was disheartening, sickening.
“I must confess, I am ashamed that I once had some faith in you and your New Deal.
“Prosperity? How you mock us.
“There can never be any true prosperity under your administration.
“Nothing but a vast destruction of wealth and hope – a degrading and demoralizing of our national character.
“Why not be perfectly frank with your people just once, and admit that you are engaged in a subtle and gigantic effort to ruin the investing classes, big and little.
“Why not come out in the open, and declare your unalterable and all too evident purpose to usher in government ownership of all important businesses and a Socialist state.
“For the hypocrisy of the New Deal is revolting.
“Raymond E. Click, Prospect, Ohio”
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A grateful letter.
Dear Mr. President:
“Sunday evening I spent with a friend in the country, a man who runs a small chicken ranch.
“About six thirty o’clock, as we sat there talking, neighbors who had no radios began to drop in to listen to your talk, which came to us at seven o’clock.
“As your voice began to come to us, the room became very quiet.
“If you could have seen the faces of those folks, hanging on your every word: their expressions when your talk was finished, you would have new strength to go ahead.
“During the following Monday, friends called at [my work] studio to pass the time of day.
“All sorts of people; a newspaper representative, a writer of action stories, a house-to-house solicitor, the postman, express man, and grocery man.
“The first word of all was, ‘Did you hear Roosevelt’s talk?’
“In the evening, the [radio news] told us the bankers were not satisfied, you had not made the promises they had hoped for; that business was dissatisfied; that the Socialists were distrustful.
“Looks like nobody was satisfied but old John Public.
“But the ordinary people with whom I came in contact showed new faith and courage after listening to your words.
“To them, your talk promised one thing, you would not turn back, and they were satisfied with that.
“That in fact, was all they wished to know.
“They are willing to follow as long as you face forward.
“Sincerely,
C.H. Van Scoy, Seattle, Washington”
It’s the message the people have always want to hear from their president:
“We’re not going back.”
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I’ll see you tomorrow.
— Brenda
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