"The Only Thing to Fear is Fear Itself"

I have heard this quote so many times, and I'm sure many of you have, too, but I only recently realized that it was Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who said this. Now to understand this quote, we must understand the context he said these words in.

Roosevelt was definitely liberal and he believed in transforming American society to support these beliefs. As it says in Freedom From Fear, Roosevelt wrote to his friend, that "the hour of opportunity for liberalism would not arrive 'until the Republicans had led us into a serious period of depression and unemployment'" (324). This prediction was made in 1924, while Coolidge, a Republican was president. Although Roosevelt was not wishing for such a harsh economic crisis, his "hour opportunity" would arrive in Election of 1933, after the Great Depression hit in Hoover's first year of presidency.

Keeping this desire in mind, he addressed the people in his First Inaugural Address. The full address can be read here (http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5057/), but outlined below are what I believe are the main statements he makes in preparing the nation for a major advancement of the United States, that could only be achieved by enacting laws similar to the progressive ideals introduced by Teddy Roosevelt.

• "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." Roosevelt starts off preparing the people for a change to to take the "needed efforts" to "advance" the American economy. 

• "Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today." We need to acknowledge the problem and take action. 

• "More important, a host of unemployed citizens face the grim problem of existence, and an equally great number toil with little return. Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment." He wants the people to realize there are many people struggling, and tries to persuade them that these people need help by pointing out those who don't believe this are "foolish optimist[s]."

• "True they have tried, but their efforts have been cast in the pattern of an outworn tradition." He acknowledges the Republicans efforts, but claims they are simply not able to because of their traditional, old ways. 

• "It can be accomplished in part by direct recruiting by the Government itself, treating the task as we would treat the emergency of a war, but at the same time, through this employment, accomplishing greatly needed projects to stimulate and reorganize the use of our natural resources." Roosevelt is trying to make the people realize that they are in an extremely unstable state, and need to give him enough power to take control and enact his decisions. 

• "Finally, in our progress toward a resumption of work we require two safeguards against a return of the evils of the old order; there must be a strict supervision of all banking and credits and investments; there must be an end to speculation with other people’s money, and there must be provision for an adequate but sound currency." Roosevelt wants to equalize the economy, and the only way to do this is by clamping down on the corporations, and wealthy business owners. 

• "They have asked for discipline and direction under leadership. They have made me the present instrument of their wishes. In the spirit of the gift I take it." Roosevelt here is saying that the people chose him, and he will do as they say, or what he believes he thinks they should say (Liberal Transformation). 

Through his Inaugural Speech, Franklin Roosevelt is convincing the people that they chose him to take the action necessary to fix the economy. He then asserts that the only way to do this is by limiting the power of corporations, and giving him enough power to make these reforms fast, and efficiently. He is ready for reforms to take over, and prepares the people for this change by reminding them that "the only thing to fear is fear itself."