October 31, 1936
FDR's Madison Square Garden Address
October 31, 1936
FDR Addresses Supporters at Madison Square Garden
More from this badass speech, where he lays out his vision for his second term.
All emphasis mine.
This our answer to those who, silent about their own plans, ask us to state our objectives.
Of course we will continue to seek to improve working conditions for the workers of America — to reduce hours that are over-long, to increase wages that spell starvation, to end the labor of children, and to wipe out sweatshops. Of course we will continue every effort to end monopoly in business, to support collective bargaining, to stop unfair competition, and to abolish dishonorable trade practices. And for all these we have only just begun to fight.
Of course we will continue to work for cheaper electricity in the homes and on the farms of America, for better and cheaper transportation, for low interest rates, for sounder home financing, for better banking, for the regulation of security issues, for reciprocal trade among nations, for the wiping out of slums. For all these we have only just begun to fight.
Of course we will continue our efforts in behalf of the farmers of America. With their continued cooperation we will do all in our power to end the piling up of huge surpluses which spelled ruinous prices for their crops. We will persist in successful action tor better land use, for reforestation, for the conservation of water all the way from its source to the sea, for drought control and flood control, for better marketing facilities for farm commodities, for a (definite) reduction of farm tenancy, for encouragement of farm cooperatives, for crop insurance and for a stable food supply for the Nation. For all these too we have only just begun to fight.
That first paragraph is amazeballs.
I love it when he says that the GOP has no plans, but demand to know what his are.
Sound familiar?
And I found it interesting that he devotes an entire section of his speech to his plans for farmers.
Something that Democrats today must emulate if we are to make inroads in rural areas and defeat the Trump cult.
He also makes it clear that this is a fight — and he has only begun to fight for the American people.
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 attacks Republican cruelty to their fellow Americans.
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