Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal: Relief and Reform

Safeguards for a New Order

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 strict supervision of all banking, 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.

Immediately after his election, Roosevelt began to formulate policies to bring about relief from the economic hardships the American people were experiencing. These programs became known as the New Deal, a reference taken from a campaign speech in which he promised a "new deal for the American people." The New Deal focused on three general goals:

• Relief for the needy
• Economic recovery
• Financial reform

The One Hundred Days and Alphabet Agencies

During the One Hundred Days, Congress enacted 15 major pieces of legislation establishing New Deal agencies and programs. The New Deal was clearly the most ambitious legislative program ever attempted by Congress and an American President. This required a vast upgrading of the government bureaucracy, so brand-new government bureaus and regulatory agencies were created to service the programs of the New Deal. People called them the "Alphabet Agencies."

Fireside Chats

In order to explain his political programs and decisions, and to lift the spirits of the American people, FDR used the most popular means of communication at the time: the radio. Between 1933 and 1944, he gave 30 national addresses via radio, dubbed the Fireside Chats. These were revolutionary because the President spoke directly to the American public. Millions of American families gathered around the radio nightly to listen to music, sports, comedies, and soap operas. These radio chats became vital for FDR. Americans loved these chats, and they helped make FDR one of the most popular US Presidents in history.

"Priming the Pump"

The Public Works Administration (PWA) was a large-scale public works construction agency. It was created by the National Industrial Recovery Act in June 1933 to provide jobs for the unemployed, stabilize purchasing power, and help revive the economy.

The PWA headquarters in Washington planned projects which were then built by private construction companies hiring workers on the open market.