1. What is the author arguing?
Franklin D. Roosevelt came into the picture after the devastating hit that the nation took since the start of The Great Depression. In Roosevelt’s inaugural address, he vowed to tend to the people at the bottom of the economic pyramid unlike his predecessor president Hoover who believed that a theory called trickledown economics would solve the problems of the nation’s poor and otherwise ignore the pleas of the poor and downtrodden. Roosevelt incites a sense of calm, collected, and confident awareness of the nation’s economic downfall that could only be saved by ignoring that which could only bring further economic destruction—fear.
“…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.”
--Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Roosevelt builds on restoring the self-confidence of the people by reassuring the people that the nation will continue on and prosper as it always has despite the moment of economic hardship. He does not, however, deny that there is a troubling economic situation and he emphasizes that action is to be taken immediately.
2. How does the author appeal to logos (logic), pathos (emotional quality), and ethos (the writer’s perceived character) with their argument?
Roosevelt does not offer a detailed solution to the troubling economic situation, but he does offer some insight into creating jobs, “Our greatest primary task is to put people to work.” Roosevelt explains that this can be accomplished in part by directly recruiting people to the Government and accomplishing projects that would help “…stimulate and reorganize the use of our natural resources.” He emphasizes that we must do more than just talk about what can be done to fix the situation; he says we must act and act now.
Roosevelt attempts to repair the hearts of an ignored nation that Hoover left behind by sympathizing with the downtrodden, poor, sick, and hungry people that have been impacted by the effects of an economic downfall. Roosevelt urges the public to stand together and work together to achieve financial stability while he works to achieve the goals he set forth in improving the economy. Empowering the citizens of America with the duty of walking alongside him and each other in order to battle that which threatens to destroy and continue to destroy the nation’s economy.
Roosevelt’s perceived character is that of a confident, aware, and active individual who is not disdained by the task at hand of repairing a nation overwhelmed by a national crisis. His demeanor exemplifies that which he tries to bestow on the listeners and viewers, which is a sense of duty to the people that he so considered to be the masters and the government the servant to the people. He emphasizes the importance of not ignoring that which would help repair the nation—the people.
3. What is the historical significance/relevance of this document?
Prior to the inauguration of President Roosevelt, the nation had been left to essentially fend on it’s own as the people fight for their families for economic stability. President Hoover left Roosevelt with a disturbing reality that the government was not behind the people and that there was no end in sight to the hardship the nation would endure. Roosevelt offered a sense of relief and hope that the troubles everyone faced and were threatened to face would come to an end at the hand of his efforts.
4. Do you find the author’s argument convincing? Why or why not?
I do find Roosevelt’s argument convincing, because he offers the idea that there is an end to a crisis that seemed so dark and unending for so many. Despite the fact that he did not offer any specific details as to how he would adequately fix the situation, he does offer attentiveness to the situation that his predecessor did not. As one veteran left his encampment in Washington D.C. mentioned, “Hoover sent the Army; Roosevelt sent his wife.” Roosevelt offered a tenderness that the people had not experienced during Hoover’s term as president. Hoover’s response to the veterans wanting benefits for serving in the World War was to break the encampment with force, while Roosevelt’s wife Eleanor Roosevelt visited the encampment and sympathized with the veterans regarding their economic state and offered assurance. Proving the attentive attitude that Roosevelt so adequately expressed in his address.
The nation lacked an understanding from the government and especially from the leader of the nation, Roosevelt’s address focused almost entirely on embracing the people and offering peace to their troubles.
