FDR: "I welcome their hatred"

[book_worm]

Delivered at Madison Square Garden, 10/31/1936:

For twelve years this Nation was afflicted with hear-nothing, see-nothing, do-nothing Government. The Nation looked to Government but the Government looked away. Nine mocking years with the golden calf and three long years of the scourge! Nine crazy years at the ticker and three long years in the breadlines! Nine mad years of mirage and three long years of despair! Powerful influences strive today to restore that kind of government with its doctrine that that Government is best which is most indifferent...

We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace--business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering.

They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob.

Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me--and I welcome their hatred.

I should like to have it said of my first Administration that in it the forces of selfishness and of lust for power met their match. I should like to have it said of my second Administration that in it these forces met their master....

[UTUSN]

1. R#1 & K, FOREVER!1 n/t

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. K&R for the best. And the truth.

[TheNutcracker]

3. Best documentary ever!!!!!

[BuelahWitch]

8. Agree

Not a puff piece, either. All the flaws were listed and examined, but you still marvel over what these people were able to achieve despite them.

[ErikJ]

49. Best Ken Burns doc yet!

Very absorbing. His Civil War doc gave me nightmares and the others I wasnt too much into the topic. Baseball? Jazz? Meh!
This in depth look at the Roosevelts is very fascinating.
Burns needs to do more bio docs like this. Kennedys, Einstein, Jefferson would be good ones.

[Doctor_J]

4. The presidency has really devolved over the last thirty five years

Can you imagine Obama standing up to the bankers or the Mic?

[MisterP]

10. why bother standing up to Wall Street or the MIC when your sycophants can just say you are?!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025556857

[BuelahWitch]

19. That all has me scratching my head

After all, he can't run for President again.

[MisterP]

20. what I'm worried about is what they'll all do come January 2017

if he so much as breathes a word against a Parteianhänger the tidal wave of bile will make the criticisms of Bush seem kindergarten
even without this, so much cultic adoration has to find an outlet or reaction once it gets cut off ...

[Doctor_J]

29. yes that thread is really disgusting

We're never going to get out of this mess we're in, due mostly to the fact that the BOG think everything is just great.

[m-lekktor]

30. yeah that one made me LOL.

alternate reality.

[heaven05]

34. the presence of

Last edited Fri Sep 19, 2014, 10:20 AM - Edit history (1)

all the deniers of MODERN political reality just makes me laugh out loud in the unbiased hate of BHO I've watched for the last six years coming from the LEFT and RW. FDR faced immense opposition, true, yet his Party mainly backed him and the 'bluedogs' were not snipping at his heels constantly while his race was not used as a weapon and issue against him by the media, in agitating the unwashed ignorant, both in Congress and in the streets, to hate his color. False equivalency is an art form here. Truly disgusting what Democrats have done in their deflection, distraction and false equivalency to this POTUS for the last six years. It borders on treason and is COWARDICE and racist in the highest. No matter how you dress you pig, it's still a pig. Transparent and obvious BS!!!!

I hope he lambasts the cowardice of this Party and it racist 'bluedog' supporters once he's out of office, although decorum will probably prevent that from happening.

Also the 'bernies' and 'warrens' have not mentioned the racism rife within our Party. The Party's leadership have not mentioned the upsurge of racist ignorance and stupidity running rampant in the streets of america and the halls of congress for the last SIX years. Who do they think they are hiding the truth from? Me, the world? Nope.

[Bigmack]

60. You posted... "..although decorum will probably prevent that from happening...."

Decorum... in this climate?

I believe that's Pres. Obama's biggest failing. Decorum.

People are hungry, need health care, global warming is more severe than thought, our infrastructure is crumbling, the country is constantly at war.. overseas and with each other... etc, etc...

...Decorum?

There should be NO decorum while this country slips into the pit underneath the outhouse.

The RW doesn't know the meaning of the word.... and the Dems are afraid to kick ass.

[BuelahWitch]

75. +1000! n/t

[steve2470]

65. good post ! nt

[MFrohike]

113. The blue dog bit makes no sense

Blue Dogs are best known for their adoration of fallacious right-wing economic philosophy (balanced budgets, federal debt "crisis", cutting entitlements to "save" them, etc.). Barack Obama is as blue as any of them when measured against their own standard. So, I don't really get your hate for them given all of that.

[heaven05]

115. anything you say

I know better and what they represent in the 'modern' political landscape. That's BS. You are wrong. Period. I don't care how you try to obfuscate the issue of 'bluedogs' who have shown NO loyalty to Obama from day fucking one.

[MFrohike]

118. I didn't obfuscate shit

I also don't get your rant about the blue dogs at all. There's what, five of them left? Man, you're raging against a past that failed 4 years ago. Get with the times.

[heaven05]

119. I am with the times and the

Last edited Tue Sep 23, 2014, 04:20 PM - Edit history (1)

times are a study in deflection, distraction, denial. It's an art form and you're a pretty good artist. I DON'T have any respect for the wing of the Democratic party that from day one kissed republican ass. I don't concern myself with artists. Nothing is past except your references. There are 52 BLUEDOGS in that coalition , but no matter, if it was just one, they are despicable and traitors. When Obama started, there were more than five and that helped the republicans set the agenda and control it for SIX fucking years. You get with it. And do some homework before you spout off about anything.

[MFrohike]

120. righto

I guess it's easy to rewrite history when you ignore the fact that Summers, Geithner, and Emanuel were directing policy. I'm sure I'd think he got stabbed in the back if I ignored that, too.

[dflprincess]

104. I wish I hadn't clicked your link

that thread gave me a headache behind my eye.

[MisterP]

110. it's like the Nothing from The Neverending Story: looking at it straight-on is an impossibility,

[merrily]

76. Like he stood up to Big Medical, Big PHRMA and Big Insurance?

Listen, he's got a Presidential library to build and a post-Presidency in which he and his wife have to earn at least as much as Bubba and Hillary. Focus, willya?

[niyad]

5. k and r and bookmarking

[Spitfire of ATJ]

6. As opposed to the Clintons who gave them the key to the Lincoln Bedroom.

[mountain grammy]

7. My favorite thing FDR said was when told the rich would leave America if he raised taxes.

"i will miss them."

[ReRe]

11. Chuckle

My Grandmother used to tell me stories of when she was a little girl. I would tell her that I wished I had been a little girl back then too. She always said "Nooooooooo, little ReRe, you wouldn't want to do that." I still say, I wish I had lived back then. I would give anything to hear a President stand up and represent me like that!

[mountain grammy]

12. My Mom was born in 1912, my Dad in 1916

They both revered FDR and were both in the Marine Corps (before they married) when he died. My Dad marched in the honor guard in the funeral procession, I have photos my Mom took of the funeral. She was still in uniform but had to leave the Corps when she married my Dad later that year.

[ReRe]

26. Both of mine were born in 1919...

That is real exciting about your dad marching in FDR's funeral procession. I know that must have been sad day.

Will refer to another post of mine in a minute, but I will tell another story about my Mummy. On the day Japan bombed us in Hawaii, mom was rocking her first son by the radio. She started weeping uncontrollably immediately, as she knew what it meant... that all the guys would be going off to war and possibly her own husband. My brother stopped suckling just as quickly and looked up in her direction... wondering what in the world was wrong with his Mama (brother was only a few weeks old and couldn't really fix his eyes yet.) In less than 4 years, that baby's daddy & Mummy's first husband would be dead in the war.

Here is the other post about FDR's election in 1935:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5557786

We have a lot in common, mountain grammy. We sure do.

[freshwest]

28. I was later brought up by my union aunt and uncle who revered FDR as well. They told me about the

radio broadcast of his Fireside Chats. Obama has done something similiar in weekly podcasts but can't get that air time, I guess. I have a lot of stories to tell about that time too, and Pearl Harbor. My dad volunteered to take the place of his older brothers who had kids and served in the Pacific. I loved that generation.

[homegirl]

42. FDR

FDR, where are you now that we need you?

[ReRe]

44. So true...

... They just don't make men like FDR anymore.

[hifiguy]

47. To paraphrase Paul Simon

"Where have you gone, Franklin Roosevelt, your nation turns its weary eyes to you...."

[ChiciB1]

23. That Statement Was Simply "Genius!" n/t

[merrily]

77. FDR and Joe Kennedy, who helped FDR fashion the New Deal, feared Revolution.

Now, they are more ready for a revolution. Besides, I think they're pretty sure we not the
"revolutioning" kind anymore.

[BuelahWitch]

9. Towards the end of his life, but a good one: The Fala Speech

[Pharaoh]

13. my God that is funny!

Miss him!

[BuelahWitch]

15. I never knew him, and I miss him too!

My mother and grandmother adored him though. Mum would have enjoyed this documentary.

[pangaia]

73. My mother kind of knew Eleanor roosevelt..

My mother was a flight attendant on American Airlines, and Mrs Roosevelt was sometimes on her flights between DC and NY. They talked quite a bit (as much as one can talk on a DC-3) and Mrs Roosevelt actually taught my mother to knit.
I have a couple old newspaper photos somewhere. If I can find them I will post.

[NCarolinawoman]

74. Wow! Nice story! n/t

[kentuck]

14. I had never heard that one!

Good one! :kick:

[steve2470]

56. that was a wonderful speech ! haha nt

[merrily]

78. His comedic delivery and timing was not at all shabby.

[OldRedneck]

16. If only . . .

If only Obama had used these same lines early in his presidency. If only he had stood up to the GOTP, told them to kiss his ass.

When Harry Truman had problems with the GOTP, he went on a nationwide tour in which he attacked the Republicans ceaselessly and head-on.

President Obama has been to nice to them and now it's much too late for him to go on the offensive.

[Smarmie Doofus]

25. Believe me, a lot of people here were saying exactly this in 2009 and 2010.

He and his advisors decided to take another route. The *wrong* route, demonstrably, as it turned out.

But one couldn't really KNOW that in 2009.

[merrily]

79. The wrong route for whom? Obama got re-elected in 2012 with less than zero

primary opposition.

Even Michael Moore, who seems upset now, was saying the candidate in 2012 had to be Obama. He will leave office and probably raise more for his library than Bubba did and he and Michele will probably get at least as rich as Bill and Hill are now.

I think he and advisors have known all along exactly what to do to make things work out for them. Obama will not go down in history as the President who didn't even try for the public option and who mocked single payer by pretending it would be like the USPS (got two pet rw birds with one stone with that one). He will go down in history as the President who finally got a health care bill passed in America.

[Smarmie Doofus]

86. I doubt it. He'll go down as having accomplished little of lasting merit.

He'll be the "But my hands were tied! My hands were tied!" president.

Roosevelt (and probably Truman) would have kicked congressional ass. Obama chose not to. As a consequence, besides the health care bill, Obama will be credited mainly for accomplishing long time *Republican* goals.

Like public school privatization and Iraq War #3.

[merrily]

90. Both of the largest political parties are pro charter school

and pro-WOT. So, who do you foresee will be marking Obama down for accomplishing long time Republican goals?

BTW, charter schools were advocated by Shanker, long time head of the teachers' union who was almost certainly a Democrat. He later repented of that but it was too late. Reagan had been advised to jump on that bandwagon with both feet; and there was no turning back.

Caroline Kennedy did a lot for charter schools in NY, even though her kids, of course, were in private school. How rapidly do you think uncle Robert was spinning in his grave?

Mad Floridian does a fantastic job with this issue. I wish she would start a cable TV show or write a book or something.

[dflprincess]

106. FDR and/or Truman would certainly have taken Wall Street to the woodshed

another road Obama refused to travel.

But I'm sure, like the Clintons, he now has a secure retirement in front of him (while threatening ours). -- Probably so secure even his great-grandchildren won't have to work.

[BuelahWitch]

94. His Republican opponent was less than stellar though

None of the Republican candidates was much of a threat, save for Jon Huntsman, and he was shuttled out quickly. Things torpedoed rather quickly for Romney after his 47% speech, and although the media would have us believe it was a horse race, Mitt couldn't touch him.

[merrily]

96. That was not the point of the exchange.

[BuelahWitch]

97. It is a point if you are going to argue that he was handily re-elected

As for being primaried, it was unlikely that he would have been, as the election of 1980 is still vivid in people's minds.

[merrily]

98. No. The point of the exchange was not an election post-mortem.

as the election of 1980 is still vivid in people's minds.

The oft repeated meme about that election is still vivid in people's minds. I think claiming Carter lost because Kennedy challenged him in a primary overlooks Carter's first term and a host of other things about Reagan.

I don't think Carter lost because of Kennedy. I think, back then, Kennedy might well have had a better shot against Reagan than Carter did. So, maybe loyalty to the incumbent was what actually cost the party the 1980 election. How's that for heresy?

I think blaming a democratic (small d) primary is a convenient thing to propagate, though. But, again, the point of the exchange was not election post mortem or primary post mortem, either.

[BuelahWitch]

102. Who cares about "the point of the exchange"?

This is DU. It's mostly a free for all and people reply to what they wish. I guess I interrupted your tea party by adding my point of view, but I don't give a shit.
BTW, had you been here during the run up to 2012, you would have seen plenty of posters who wanted someone to primary Obama, myself included. We were told it would never happen, and 1980 was given as a reason. Obama wasn't primaried, he had a sub-par opponent and was handily re-elected. End of story.
Now you may go on with your tea party by replying to whomever you were initially and get on with your ever so important "point of the exchange."
.

[merrily]

103. You may not care about the point of my post. I sure do. However, if you

are going to purport to reply to it, you should at least get what it meant first.

I have no doubt you were fed that meme about 1980. And? Doesn't mean it was actually the reason Carter lost the election. Lots of people used to say the world was definitely flat.

As far as a tea party with someone else, look around. The only one I've been talking to you is you.

[BuelahWitch]

109. You've hijacked your subthread

far more than I did with my post about the 2012 election. You could have ignored my posting altogether and gone on with your tete a tete. But you decided to try and shut me down, and expected me to walk out of the room backwards apologizing profusely for interrupting your patrician discussion (which DID touch on the election, whether you want to admit it or not). I'm tired of bullies and their tactics, and I'm totally done taking their shit.

[merrily]

111. I did not accuse you of hijacking my subthread.

Odd that you accuse me of it. Nor did I so much as imply I expected an an apology or that my discussion was patrician. And whether you want to admit it or not, the election was just an example of how Obama is doing fine, but maybe the 99% is not.

I could have omitted mention of both the primary and the election from that post without changing its meaning one bit.

You claimed I was arguing about the election. Not even close. Apparently, you wanted to contradict me about something I never posted and was not discussing.

I'm tired of bullies and their tactics, and I'm totally done taking their shit.

Then maybe curse at a mirror, not at me.

All I did was tell you that doing an autopsy on why Obama won the 2012 election (or why Carter lost his) was not relevant to my point. You, on the other hand, have being directing a lot of rude invective at me.

If bullying someone online is even possible, the bully in this conversation has been you.

I'm sure it will not come as a surprise that I will not be checking your replies on this thread anymore.

[BuelahWitch]

17. One thing this documentary brought out

FDR was born rich, but he was never accepted by his peers. From the time he was a little boy, to when he went to Harvard to his time in the New York legislature, he never really fit in. But the people loved him because he worked to help them (sometimes at Eleanor's prompting-damn she's my hero!) When the Depression hit, Hoover sat in Washington unwilling to do much of anything. Roosevelt was Governor of New York getting things done.

[Archae]

18. In the show did they ever mention FDR's mother?

Because I read a short article about FDR's Mom, that she hated Eleanor and tried to keep FDR out of politics.

[ChiciB1]

22. Oh YES, MaMa Has Been Mentioned Many Times

especially in the previous episodes. But regarding FDR, if one has watched from the first episode he actually was referred to as a snob and his Harvard buddies who later hate him, were quite chummy for a long time.

I've learned quite a lot about him that I never knew, but tonight's episode is beginning to show the FDR we've heard about and all he accomplished. The dynamics between him and "the Mrs." is really interesting and all this inside story is FASCINATING! AND, I also learned that The Crash happened on the date of my birthday way back then. I never knew that.

Learning so much, this is a GREAT DOCUMENTARY and I would love to purchase the DVDs, but right now my budget isn't allowing for splurges.

I wonder if they will run this again... anyone missing this will probably kick themselves for doing so. One of the very best that Ken Burns has ever done. The 2 hours go by so fast and I don't want it to stop. I'm seeing what went on back then as close to what is happening now. BUT we don't HAVE FDR or an active Congress that he had! Also, we as a society are so fractured and materialistic!

We're much more on track of the fall of the Roman Empire.

ANYWAY, this is great TV, I wonder how he handles Pearl Harbor and how much FDR knew about this!

[WI_DEM]

33. I don't think she hated Eleanor

at times they were allies. But she thought she was the most important woman in his life--not his wife.

[sabrina 1]

21. That man was a LEADER! Americans owe so much to him. It's amazing how

much he got done, how it didn't matter whether Congress wanted what he proposed or not.

In his first term he pulled the country out of the depression by PUSHING programs starting almost on his first day in office. He was a political whirlwind.

I loved the story of the guy who held up a poster as he was passing by that said 'Mr Roosevelt, you are my friend'.


Amazing human being, despite his few flaws.

[merrily]

80. I think Americans owe so much to the Russian peasants

and the Russian military, who joined forces to overthrow the Tsar not very long before our Wall Street crash of 1929.

After the wolves of Wall Street defrauded the entire nation and the nation's savings went down the hopper with the economy, America's rich were terrified that Americans would do the same as the Russians had recently done, namely rise up, kill the oligarchs and take their stuff.

The very rich FDR and a very rich Wall Street wolf, Joe Kennedy, worked hard on reforms to try to avoid revolution. Some of the reforms were dismantled while FDR was still in office. Others went bit by bit. But, we still have Social Security.And, as you know, they've been after that for a long time.

On the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Joe Kennedy's son, MTP aired a clip from when JFL was running for President. One of the reporters questioned JFK about why JFK thought Democrats were good for the economy. Without a second of hesitation, Joe Kennedy's son replied, "Democrats saved American capitalism."

Also, a lot of what they did was to makes banks and Wall Street seem safer so that Americans would feel comfortable using them again. Those parts of the New Deal are still in place, except for Glass Steagall and the Bankruptcy Act of 1934.

The FDIC and the SEC (even though the SEC is a joke now) were put in place as much for the benefit of banks and Wall Street as for the benefit of the general public. However, at least they did benefit both the 99% and the 1%.

[navarth]

93. perspective makes everything better. thanks. nt

[merrily]

95. In 2014, it's easy to forget how terrifying the Russian revolution

must have been to the oligarchs. But, look how much time, money, effort and blood this country put into the Cold War and how uneasy our situation-driven WW II alliance with Russia was.

[dflprincess]

105. “Men will thank God on their knees a hundred years from now that Franklin D. Roosevelt was in the

[div class = "excerpt"]
White House,”…

“It was his hand, more than that of any other single man, that built the great coalition of the United Nations. It was his leadership which inspired free men in every part of the world to fight with greater hope and courage. Gone is the fresh and spontaneous interest which this man took, as naturally as he breathed air, in the troubles and the hardships and the disappointments and the hopes of little men and humble people.” New York Times editorial, April 13, 1945


Next April it will be 70 years and any thinking person does thank God (or the fates, whatever or whoever you want to thank) that FDR was in the White House when he was for as long as he was...and that Eleanor was working with him.

[Smarmie Doofus]

24. Who was the speechwriter? It's poetry, really. n/t

[pleinair]

27. that quote stood out to me, too

"I welcome their hatred" -- superb!

[B Calm]

31. He was an amazing man!

[kairos12]

32. Still my hero. His words still resonate.

[heaven05]

35. Your point???

Obama should have been more like FDR???? Tell that to the 'bluedogs', I call them undercover racists of our Party..... Tell that to the Tea Party and RW racist pigs that have denied him any leeway to move politically to accomplish anything of true worth for the american people. Tell that to Pelosi, Reid, Feinstein, and the rest of the cowardly leadership of the Democratic Party that has hidden under their desks, for the last six years, whimpering when the RW 'gets angry'.

This is an attempt to cover up the FAILINGS of the DEMOCRATIC PARTY in protecting and showing true loyalty to our POTUS. I can't wait to see what all of you do to Hillary if she wins and if she doesn't, the Democrats in party leadership positions and people who post bullshit like this SHALL be responsible. I really don't care how many disagree or want to whine about anything I have written. It will stand the test of time and history. All this about our POTUS not being an FDR is BS that denies the reality of modern politics and the true RW and 'bluedog' racism that has dictated the non movement of politics for the last six years. You want a goddamn FDR, dig him up, you'll have one.

[Amonester]

40. The Utopian-Left will attack him on everything not 100% Utopia

And they probably won't vote for the Democratic candidates again no matter what, although many of them may rethink their position sooner than later.

We know to who the same phenomena happened before.

Only because the World Wide Web exists today do they never stop posting their 100% utopia 24/7.

Take care, no matter what. Maybe they will see the wrong of their ways one of these days.

[Enthusiast]

50. The Utopian left?

You mean Democrats that believe in public education, organized labor, corporate responsibility, a fair unbiased media, free and fair elections uncorrupted by hundreds of millions of dollars, social security and medicare?

[Amonester]

52. No.

pinkies-like(s)

[Enthusiast]

53. Where are they?

They only exist in the figment of your imagination.

[Amonester]

54. My image-ination:

I'm not saying it's not their right to exist in my imagination, I'm just saying they probably won't vote for Democratic candidates ever again, unless they realize that by doing so, they might bring back the crazies in power once again, and that their utopian agenda will only have even less chances to ever become real...

Unless they rethink their position (doubtful).

[BuelahWitch]

55. How did you feel about them when they protested Bush's war?

Because this is STILL Bush's war. There is just a different President, one with a D after his name, to administer it now.

[Amonester]

58. I also protested the LIES that "started" this mess... and what "good" did it do? Ignored.

Now that THAT mess I marched against but was ignored has to be "cleaned up" by the next guy(s)...

But you have the right to believe the two are the same. I don't believe they are. Period.

[Enthusiast]

71. Being opposed to a new war in Iraq hardly makes one a utopian extremist.

Geez.

[Enthusiast]

70. +1

[merrily]

83. Utopian Left. LOL!

[treestar]

114. FDR did not bring about Utopia

either, so they should be ragging on him too.

And he did some really bad things like the internment.

[sabrina 1]

43. FDR swept into the WH and began work on establishing programs to help the

working class almost immedieately. He didn't give a damn about those who opposed him, he WENT TO THE PEOPLE and got THEIR SUPPORT, he returned to them their ROLE in Government. He got on the radio and engaged the PEOPLE.

Obama btw, didn't seem to know much about FDR when he stated that FDR had waited for six months before taking any action. That was revealing, especially since he seemed to know a lot more about Reagan.

I expect a Democratic President when asked which President he most admires to at least mention FDR. But to not even know the huge accomplishments of FDR which began the minute he took office, using the momentum he had, over running his opponents by engaging the PEOPLE who crossed political lines to support him, THAT is leadership.

And if you think FDR didn't have to face the same kind of obstruction every president who cares about the working faces, you are wrong. The difference was that FDR put the people first and laughed at the obstructionists, mocked them, never catered to them or tried to win them over.

He knew what he wanted to do and was committed to those goals. He surrounded himself with others who had similar goals, not with Republicans who could influence him in any way.

[Enthusiast]

48. PLUS ONE, a huge bunch!

[YoungDemCA]

66. Because the People forced him to...

Also, having an overwhelmingly Democratic Congress probably helped. And being a white man from an upper-class background, too. Hell, he was a Roosevelt! And the New Deal specifically excluded a lot of people-domestic and agricultural workers, for example (minorities and women being disproportionately represented there-gee, I wonder why they didn't reap the benefits of FDR's programs! ). Gotta keep those Dixiecrats in the Democratic coalition! (Like Theodore Bilbo, to name one example-one of the staunchest champions of the New Deal, and one of the most virulent racists too! And he was far from alone then).

Don't let these facts get in the way of your righteous rant, though.

[merrily]

82. Exactly how did the people force him to?

I know FDR said, "Make me do it" or something to that effect. However, FDR did so damned much during his first 100 days in office that, ever after that, the media has taken a a look at a new President after his first 100 days in office. That didn't happen before FDR. So, how did the people make FDR set records during his first 100 days? For that matter, how do the people force any President to do what he does not care to do?

Also, you are mistaken that the New Deal excluded agricultural workers and domestic workers. Parts of the New Deal helped farmers and agricultural workers. Welfare and Social Security covered everyone. So did laws protecting unionization.

[Doctor_J]

85. you missed his main point. fdr was successful because he was white, and a

racist. The BOG always gets back to that when the going gets tough.

[merrily]

91. I don't think we know if FDR was a racist. He did not want to

lose the South for the Democratic Party, we do know that. Was he personally racist? Who knows? I don't think Eleanor was. She was disappointed that he put Party above principle. Now, most of DU seems not only to do that, but also to mock those who cling to principle as unrealistic or, as one post on this thread said, "the Utopian left."

Truman was utopian? He'd die laughing over that one, if he weren't already dead.

Anyway, I don't know if Eleanor could have lived with someone who was racist. Maybe. I don't know.

[WI_DEM]

61. What is wrong with you?

I thought that this was posted last night just because people have been watching 'The Roosevelts' on PBS and this speech was included in the program. I didn't take it as an anti-Obama post. You need to settle down or something.

[BuelahWitch]

72. Roosevelt Derangement Syndrome

[book_worm]

116. My point was I enjoy the documentary and love this speech

it has nothing to do with Obama. Not everything has to do with Obama.

[heaven05]

117. Good.

Right.

[FailureToCommunicate]

36. He was a giant among men, though he himself could barely stand up...

[grahamhgreen]

37. I guess when they talk sh#t about you, you know you're on the right track.

[meow2u3]

38. Grilled Millionaire

Personally, I prefer fried billionaire for breakfast.

[toby jo]

39. Excellent show.

What I'm getting is the constant focus on DOMESTIC issues. What can we do to help the people? What programs will work? How about this Shantyville, or the coal miners in WV, or the condition of the blacks in the south, or the plight of children working and the unemployed and women?

They built roads and bridges that still stand. He created social programs that still stand.

God damn..

Surprised at how great a man's man Teddy was, too. Didn't like his bloodlust for war, but that aside, he was concerned about the common man. When FDR said he was running for Pres, and told Teddy it would be on the Democrat ticket, Teddy said something like 'Doesn't matter what side, just go after the big boys.'

Amazing, too, watching history repeat itself.

Thanks, Ken Burns.

[hifiguy]

41. Neither FDR nor his cousin TR

Last edited Fri Sep 19, 2014, 02:59 PM - Edit history (1)

gave a pinch of shit whether the economic elites hated them.

Here's a great TR quote from a 1910 speech:

“The essence of any struggle for healthy liberty has always been . . . to take from some one man or class of men the right to enjoy power, or wealth, or position, or immunity, which has not been earned by service to his or their fellows.

The Constitution guarantees protections to property, and we must make that promise good. But it does not give the right of suffrage to any corporation. The true friend of property, the true conservative, is he who insists that property shall be the servant and not the aster of the commonwealth, who insists that the creature is of man's making shall be the servant and not the master of the man who made it. The citizens of the United States must effectively control the mighty commercial forces which they have themselves called into being.

(The people must insist on) complete and effective publicity of corporate affairs [and] a law prohibiting the use of corporate funds directly or indirectly for political purposes.

I rank dividends below human character. If our political institutions were perfect, they would absolutely prevent the political domination of money in any part of our affairs We need to make our political representatives more quickly and sensitively responsive to the people whose servants they are . . . It is particularly important that all moneys received or expended for campaign purposes, not only after election, but before election as well . . .”

Theodore Roosevelt, The “New Nationalism” speech, Denver, Colorado, 29 August, 1910 (emphasis added)

[kelliekat44]

46. Secretly, don't think Obama does either. He just needs to use them. nt

[merrily]

81. He's using them? Yeah, that's the ticket.

All the plutocrats are exploiting the 99% of the world, including us.

[Doctor_J]

87. this documentary seems to have exposed the fact that

the BOG is loony. Obama is "using" the hyper rich and the banksters???

[merrily]

89. I may be cynical, but I don't think delusion is necessarily

the reason certain things get posted.

[No Vested Interest]

45. FDR was president when I was born, and I remember hearing the news of his death

just as many today remember when JFK was killed. A childhood friend and classmate told me "Roosevelt has died and skinny Truman is the new President." Truman was not only fairly unknown (pre-TV days), but he was not well-regarded by many during his presidency. As we know, Harry Truman is now pointed to as a man of strong will and accomplishment, but in the late 1940's, not so much.

I'm thoroughly enjoying this series, and, yes, learning a lot more.

[MannyGoldstein]

51. Wasn't it "I welcome their serious proposals?" nt

[deutsey]

57. LOL

[merrily]

100. Maybe,

"I am terrified USians are about to revolt against people like me and Joe Kennedy, as happened not very long ago in Russia."

That is my view of the New Deal and I think the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam protests and a few other things were the motivation for the War on Poverty.

The various groups that were protesting (1) inequitable distribution of wealth; (2) inequitable treatment of African-Americans; (3) the draft and the Vietnam War and (4) some other causes looked as though they could coalesce under the very charismatic King. And they were not all peaceful groups, even in the civil rights movement.

There was a fear that some speaker or other might start some disruptive talk at the March on Washington. They were ready to cut off the mikes at any second and play recordings of Mahalia Jackson.

[MannyGoldstein]

108. Agree 100%.

FDR greatness was largely forced upon him. But I think it's also true that he was an immensely talented politicians with and incredible urge to to great things. And he had an open-enough mind to surround himself with a variety of people, from bankers to Frances Perkins and Henry Wallace.

[thucythucy]

59. Loved the beginning of last night's episode

when they played an excerpt of his first "fireside chat"--laying out how the big banks had been either "incompetent" or corrupt, thus bringing on the Great Depression with their reckless speculation.

Every Democratic president or presidential candidate should listen to those broadcasts, the brilliant work of a true political master.

[colsohlibgal]

62. It's Unselfish/Empathetic Versus Selfish/Non Empathetic

So much to admire in TR, FDR, and Eleanor. Trust busting, New Deal etc. Rich people who get it.

I found it sad that Teddy Jr. seemed to inherit none of his dad's feel for the poor and disadvantaged.

And hatred - I had a history teacher in college who said her dad hated Roosevelt so much he would get apoplectic when FDR was even mentioned around him.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

63. FDR is my hero. But he entered office in the depths of the Great Depression

and it carried on until the war. He saved Capitalism and received no gratitude from the likes of J.P.Mogan. Obama didn't have the position of lifting us out if the depths. And of course he had support from Wall Street. However, he lost it when Romney ran.

We all know Politics has way too much money in it. Maybe in his heart of hearts Obama regrets taking corporate funding. Though I suspect he'd have lost without it. Do you imagine Hillary would have cut a better deal? Obama blew it at the TARP table. He walked away with a winning hand. But we simply don't know what FDR would have done were we not in already in a great depression.

My question: the global economy was not a factor in 1933. Had we known Hitler would use the depression for aggression, would FDR handled things differently? FDR also cut the oil deal with the Saudi's. We just can't always see beyond the horizon.

Btw, right now, with the world on the brink of countless disasters, "left leaning" MSNBC is covering every step Godell takes toward a microphone.

Our 2014 media: totally useless and all pervasive

[YoungDemCA]

67. Good points. We live in a totally different age now, in terms of technology and media

And communications. The world is "smaller" now. Far more people live in the cities now. The rate of unionization is far, far smaller in the 21st century than in the 1930s-hell, "union" is a dirty word for many now! Not to mention, how much more racially diverse America is today. Issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, and others are far more salient now. And the influence of commercialism, advertising, public relations, and TV/internet (neither of which existed in the 1930s) propaganda is far greater in this day and age than it was in the 1930s.

All of this focus on who the President is-without any reference or sensitivity to historical and social context-is painfully provincial, and reveals a lot about the filtered, edited memories of the past that many have.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

88. Well. We agree.

So many differences.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

121. Final installment - Edith Roosevelt quote

"FDR was as conservative as Alexander Hamilton and as progressive as Teddy"

Stood out because FDR did rely on those whose hatred he welcomed when war came. And he did not make the declaration on Germany until after Hitler did. Waited out Stalin too.

[daleanime]

64. K&R....

worth repeating.

[santamargarita]

68. Ken Burns is my favorite. It's doesn't surprise me that the...

fucking Republicans were just a vicious bunch of America hating assholes then as they are now.
He also tried to get legislation passed that would make it mandatory that Supreme Court Judges had to retire after 70. He had an bunch of old GOP fucks shooting down his legislation as fast as he could pass it. They fell in line after FDR's proposal.

[longship]

69. Ken Burns' documentary is awesome.

The best chapter is tonight's -- WWII -- where he really shows his leadership. It is no wonder that he was elected to four well deserved terms.

The best POTUS ever.

[merrily]

84. Every President is a very mixed bag.

Teddy Roosevelt was great, but apparently was a racist.

FDR was a damned genius and worked so very hard under such strain, while his health was not great. I don't know if he was racist, too, but he did not want to risk disturbing the "Solid South," which was then still voting Democratic for historical reasons. Therefore, he did not bow to many who wanted reforms as to African Americans, including his own wife.

And the internment of Japanese Americans was a new racist stain on the fabric of this nation. That should have taught us something about bowing to claims of what is and what is necessary for "national security." It should have taught us to stand for the right thing, even when we are physically afraid. If it did, many of us seem to have forgotten the lesson.

[EEO]

92. FDR was hands down one of our greatest presidents.

He never would have been elected now, though. The media would have destroyed his presidential run before it started with questions like "can a man who can't walk on his own lead America?" When he ran for office and held the presidency most Americans didn't even know he couldn't walk without assistance. Today's media would never be so kind not to harp on that fact. Assholes like O'Reilly, whose family benefited from social programs put in place by FDR to allow him to become the ignorant douche he is, would attack him mercilessly.

[merrily]

101. He could not walk, period. He had a man on each side--his sons, I think--when

he campaigned and, through force of will and much practice, he managed to appear as though he was moving his legs in a clunky way. But the men on either side of him were all but carrying him and also helping him look as though he were moving as people do when walking.

I heard someone telling how news photographers were waiting eagerly to snap as pick as went to the ship where Churchill was awaiting him for a big meeting about WWII. They all had their cameras aimed and ready. However, he was carried out of the car and up the gangplank "like a sack of potatoes." And, to a man, they lowered their cameras. No one took a single pic of the most powerful man in the world. Today, that would never happen.

[EEO]

112. He wore rigid metal braces on his legs and literally swung his body back and forth...

... to give the impression of walking while men flanked him.

[merrily]

122. Yep. Amazing.

[AZ Progressive]

99. The Aggressive Progressives

Progressives / left leaning politicians in American history were not feeble, Republicans started portraying left leaning Democrats as feeble starting with Carter, but progressives / left leaning presidents have been aggressive in America's past.

[frazzled]

107. And yet in tonight's episode we learned how he embraced them,

making them even richer with the buildup to war in the late 30s/early 40s, turning their steel mills and automobile plants into giant plane-building and armaments behemoths.

(Not blaming him, and it did finally solve the jobs and economic problems of the country; but as the documentary pointed out, it was these selfsame men whose hatred Roosevelt welcomed just a few years earlier that he turned to in his efforts to convince the country to go to war.)

[QC]

123. kick