The Charisma Of FDR

The Best President in History?

    During the Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidential terms, he faced serious  political tribulations. Among these tribulations, were the issues of African American Civil Rights, the Great Depression and war. FDR found himself having to make choices that were impossible to make, and often times, he went with the less of two evils.

Stage 1: Strong Sense of Mission
    Despite Franklin’s moral compass he failed to advocate the federal anti-trust lynching legislation and unfortunately refused to integrate the armed forces. His main conflict was that although he had sympathetic views on African Americans, if he did support the anti-lynching legislation, his New Deal policy would have been in jeopardy if he ostracized southern supporters.

Stage 2: Formula for achieving goals
    This raises the issue of whether the New deal was truly meant to help America come out of the depression, or was it a means to prolong the depression and oppress blacks in America. According to Powell, “the New Deal threw African Americans out of work, raised the price of food during the depths of the depression, and granted monopoly bargaining powers to racist unions.” Therefore, in theory, Roosevelt’s charisma although strong, was also misguided or flawed by the public. In other words, FDR often had an indifferent attitude toward minorities.
    In the beginning of FDR’s administration, he was seen as a charismatic, optimistic president, which enabled him to connect with supporters, which gave him the ability to sell his policies to America. Roosevelt faced major pressures during his time in office from his advisors, who forced him to think further to the left, as far as the economy and the war.

Stage 3: Awe, Social Distance, Deference
    FDR not only faced economic issues during his administration, but he also faced his own personal trials and tribulations, which shows how dedicated he was in bettering America and its hardships. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was struck by polio, which made him feel feverish and weak in the legs. At age 39, Roosevelt lost the use of both of his legs. Despite the paralysis, FDR refused to let the disease of polio limit him in his every day responsibilities.
    Therefore, because  of FDR’s determination to not be seen as a cripple in the eye of the public, he had steel leg braces created, so that he could appear to be healthy and strong. In other words, he was able to walk slowly with an aid by his side, and nobody knew that his legs were paralyzed.

Stage 4: Expression of Inchoate Sentiments
    Despite his paralysis, FDR grew stronger and seeked a higher calling, and help find away to help the United States out of the Great Depression. Many citizens lost their savings and jobs, people became infuriated at President Herbert Hoover, who was taking small steps to help save the American people from the economic crisis that they faced. However, that all changed in the 1932 elections, where the citizens of the United States demanded change, and on the receiving end, FDR promised them what they wanted.

Stage 5: Hazardous nature of the Message:
    The American people were extremely lucky,  that they voted for FDR, because his charisma pushed him to serve as president for almost four terms, which enabled him to fulfill his promises to help America get out of the Great Depression and win World War II. During Roosevelt’s first two terms as president he took steps to transition the U.S. out of the Great Depression. Within his first 100 days in office, FDR implemented the “New Deal” in which he closed all banks, in order to re-establish the American peoples confidence in banks, which would eventually strengthen their belief in the economic system. In addition, FDR also introduced the creation of alphabet agencies, which consisted of, AAA, CCC, FERA, TVA, and TWA, which offered relief to American citizens.
    Another example of FDR’s charisma, was his ability to connect with the American people, through the use of the radio. For instance, in March of 1933, FDR utilized the radio to address citizens, with his “fireside chats”, which was a way for him to communicate with the public and convey confidence in the government and to calm citizens’ fears and worries.

Stage 6: Validation of message through achievement of success
    The best decision that Franklin Delano Roosevelt made was to involve the U.S. in WWII. This decision on FDR’s side, because it enabled the U.S. to get out of the economic depression. Once the U.S. entered WW II he put in an order to increase production of war machinery and supplies. This opened up the floodgates to give jobs to the unemployed and indirectly gave him the foot in the door, which gave them equal opportunities in the labor force.