LAD #28: Franklin D. Roosevelt's First Inaugural Address

On Saturday, March 4, 1933 Franklin D. Roosevelt made his First Inaugural Address. He started out by stating that America is in a hard state, and that he was going to speak to America with the whole truth, frankly, and boldly, and that there was “nothing to fear in the world but fear itself.” He said that he was going to provide America with the good leadership, the leadership a country needs in a critical period of time. He states that America has been in deep troubles, the taxes have risen, our ability to pay has fallen, governments of all kinds are faced by serious curtailment of income, and farmers have no markets for their produce. He also stated that there are a huge number of unemployed citizens facing the problem of existence. He then goes on to say although these troubles may seem huge, they are not compared to what America has gone through before. He then called for action, by saying, “This Nation asks for action, and action now.” He states that this action should be achieved by getting people to work. He stated that there must be strict supervision of all banking and credits, and that our international relations are less important than our domestic problems. He closes his Inaugural Address by stating that “In this dedication of a Nation we humbly ask the blessing of God. May He protect each and every one of us. May He guide me in the days to come.”