LAD#33

Franklin D. Roosevelt First Inaugural Address

Saturday, March 4, 1933

Now is the time to speak the truth.  The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.  Nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts.  Our problems only concern material things.  Values have shrunken, taxes have risen, ability to pay has fallen, farmers find no markets for their produce, savings have been lost.

Nature still offers her bounty.  Plenty is at our doorstep.  The problem is the practices of unscrupulous banks due to the lure of profit.  But happiness does not lie in the mere possession of money.

The nation asks for action, and action now.  Our greatest primary task is to put people to work, and can be accomplished in part by the direct recruiting by the Government itself, treating the task as if we were at war.  There must also be a strict supervision of all banking and credits and investments.  In National policy we need to be a good neighbor who respects the rights of others.

I am prepared under by constitutional duty to recommend the measures that a stricken nation requires.  If the Congress fails to take action, I will not evade the clear course of duty … I will ask the Congress for broad Executive power to wage war against the emergency, as great as the power that would be given to me if we were in fact invaded by a foreign foe.

We face hard days ahead.  The people of the United States have not failed.  They have asked for leadership.  I accept the position.

May god guide me in the days to come.

Photo#2: Again in 2008 there was a recession, and a need for people to get back to work.