The Inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt

The country was undergoing a difficult period in history when Roosevelt took office, but he was elected to lead the nation as president an unprecedented four times.

NPS Photo

Remembering President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president during World War II, we might forget that at the time of his first inauguration, we were a nation caught firmly in the grip of the Great Depression. Many Americans were paralyzed by fear and doubt stemming from an enormous unemployment rate and widespread bank failures. Many had lost faith in government and America itself. One of the greatest things Roosevelt brought to his presidency therefore was confidence—confidence in himself, in his country and in the people.

Roosevelt was inaugurated March 4th, 1933. He delivered his first inaugural address during a colossal banking crisis. Nearly 11,000 of the nation’s banks were in trouble and 24,000 banks had already failed—wiping out the hard-earned savings of millions of Americans. In addition, the unemployment rate had soared to an epic 25%.

Roosevelt addressed those issues in his speech. However, he did not delve into the specifics. He talked instead about the thing he felt was most important for the country: restoring confidence. Perhaps the most famous passage of that address stated:

“I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our people impel. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”

Interestingly, it was not that passage that garnered the largest applause from the crowd at the Capitol that day. Instead, it was Roosevelt’s promises of immediate action, bank regulation, and a broad use of his Executive powers as Commander-in-Chief to wage “war” on the economic emergency at hand. Roosevelt would shepherd fifteen pieces of legislation through Congress in his first 100 days, and eventually serve an unprecedented four terms as president.

Despite the difficulties the country faced, and struggles related to his health and personal life, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was able to restore the nation’s confidence, and that legacy endures.