THE “NEW DEAL” FROM FDR
From the family point of view FDR was the “Cat’s Pajamas”. I was born in 1933 and so Roosevelt’s New Deal and I sort of came in together :O). My Grand Dad was elected City Tresure of our town (Bellingham, WA.) in 1932 and was re-elected three times. We sat around the radio listening to FDR’s “Fireside Chats” all through World War Two. In spite of all the political flack Roosevelt took, he did a great job pulling us through a very, if not impossible time.
When you think about it, to fight two world wars simultaneously in different parts of the world over four-year period is an amazing thing. In addition, many people do not know that after the war we led the world in providing relief to both Germany and Japan so they could rebuild their countries. In addition, our veterans were given the opportunity to go to college on the GI Bill. Frankly, I do not really understand how all this was possible, but I know I was a recipient of many of these benefits.
To take this story one step further, we need to remember that Roosevelt did all this as a full-fledged cripple. Both legs were paralyzed and so he had to pull himself around in a wheelchair or arm crutches to get anywhere or do anything himself around in a wheelchair and/or arm crutches to get anywhere or do anything. If you watch the films from that time it is easy to see how difficult all this was for him. In addition, he partnered up with Churchill to save England from Hitler conquering Europe and then kept Russia somewhat at bay for several years.
To be sure, Roosevelt had his faults, both personal and political, but all-in-all in my view he was the free-world’s world’s greatest leader. Everyone was afraid that Roosevelt’s entire accomplishments might fade under the administration of Harry Truman, but happily this did not happen. It is still a marvel to me how he, and we, managed to rebuilt our own and the world’s economy after the financing a world war on two fronts. I well remember those years of the war and as well immediately thereafter when things were scarce and we were not sure we could pull through.
I guess I get a bit too impatient in our current times with those who cry and moan about how things are, and are not, going. “Suck it up and get back to positive attitudes and work” I find myself wanting to say. The great American Dream of brotherhood and freedom has withstood everything Hitler and his ilk could throw at it and although we are often struggling, our commitment to living together though of different opinions and histories is still strong and growing. I’m sorry, but the Statue of Liberty still proclaims our creed: the poor huddled masses can learn to live together. Indeed, we can continue to learn to thrive together.
Of course it will take thought, effort, and mutual respect to keep this crazy experiment going, but in the past this dream has held its own against the powers and problems we have faced together. So let’s suck it up and grow up and get out of the terrible past Trump put us in ten years ago.