October 31, 1936
FDR's Madison Square Garden Address
October 31, 1936
FDR Addresses Supporters at Madison Square Garden
More from this badass speech.
All emphasis mine.
But, aside from this phase of it, I prefer to remember this campaign not as bitter but only as hard- fought. There should be no bitterness or hate where the sole thought is the welfare of the United States of America. No man can occupy the office of President without realizing that he is President of all the people.
It is because I have sought to think in terms of the whole Nation that I am confident that today, just as four years ago, the people want more than promises.
And our vision for the future contains more than promises.
This a short excerpt, but I chose to include it in the exploration of this speech because he talks about the importance of the President being a leader for all Americans.
Something we are sorely lacking today, to say the least.
He also says that his vision for the future contains more than promises. And the people believed him because he had already delivered.
It is up to the Democratic party to return to the workers first and take no prisoners message of FDR.
Here’s the audio:
Some historic context from Wikipedia: — Eight million workers remained unemployed in 1936, and though economic conditions had improved since 1932, they remained sluggish. By 1936, Roosevelt had lost the backing he once held in the business community because of his support for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Social Security Act.
The Republicans had few alternative candidates and nominated Kansas Governor Alf Landon. While Roosevelt campaigned on his New Deal programs and continued to attack Hoover, Landon sought to win voters who approved of the goals of the New Deal but disagreed with its implementation.
In the election against Landon and a third-party candidate, Roosevelt won 60.8% of the vote and carried every state except Maine and Vermont. Democrats expanded their majorities in Congress, controlling over three-quarters of the seats in each house.
The election also saw the consolidation of the New Deal coalition; while the Democrats lost some of their traditional allies in big business, they were replaced by groups such as organized labor and African Americans, the latter of whom voted Democratic for the first time since Emancipation. Roosevelt lost high-income voters, especially businessmen and professionals, but made major gains among the poor and minorities. He won 86 percent of the Jewish vote, 81 percent of Catholics, 80 percent of union members, 76 percent of Southerners, 76 percent of blacks in northern cities, and 75 percent of people on relief. Roosevelt carried 102 of the country's 106 cities with a population of 100,000 or more.
Remember — the GOP still wants to kill the New Deal. Even today they are trying to gut the National Labor Relations Board and Social Security.
Be fearless and make lasting changes, Dems. Follow the master.
More goodies from this badass speech tomorrow — where he lays out his vision for his second administration.
Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss your Daily Delano — quotes to inspire you from our 32nd President.
As a public service, The Daily Delano will always remain free to all subscribers — but if you want to support a working gal with a paid subscription, I’m much obliged.