Franklin D. Roosevelt

Roosevelt was the democratic candidate in 1932. Roosevelt had been governor of New York and had created programs like unemployment relief and welfare. A popular view of the man was that he lacked conviction. He straddled the issue of liquor and gave in to William Randolph Hearst about opposing US acceptance of the League of Nations. In spite of this, Roosevelt won the biggest victory any candidate had had at that time in history. In many situations, he may have appeared uncertain, but he knew what he wanted and that is what he worked for.

Roosevelt became president at the worst time in US history. The Great Depression was more severe than any the country had had. The traditional programs were ineffective and Roosevelt embarked on a new kind of program, known collectively as the New Deal. These programs resulted in massive deficit spending, which pumped money...