Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States. He was elected in 1932, defeating Herbert Hoover. He drew support among Democrats and many Republicans in large part as a repudiation of Hoover's failed attempts to stem the downturn in the US economy.

Many interviewees point out that Roosevelt ran on a rather conservative platform, largely committing to balance the federal budget. Upon taking office, however, he and his "brain trust" realized that massive government spending and intervention into the private sector would be necessary to combat the deepening economic depression. Perhaps the most controversial of his early efforts was the National Recovery Administration, which among other things set minimum wages. He closed the nation's banks to assess their solvency. He threatened financial institutions who made a run on gold, silver, and other precious metals.

Various interviewees argue that the grassroots movements of Huey Long...