Delano Roosevelt's Credibility

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected president in a time of economic instability. His campaign approach was to be appealing to as many as possible while addressing the needs of the United States. The divide between the two political parties made it impossible for any to address the growing economic problems, therefore Franklin’s gain “was largely due to the increasing seriousness of the Depression” (Daniels, 92). Roosevelt was an accomplished Senator and a member of the Democratic Party. Later perspectives of his campaign describe his act as seeking to “appear as the fair, impartial arbiter,” this gave independent voters more confidence in him while still keeping a clear agenda on the issues (Daniels, 96). Franklin Roosevelt’s appeal to the

Roosevelt first alluded to sworn testimony to establish his own credibility: “This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly” (American Rhetoric).A majority of the audience in attendance of the first inaugural address were members of the Christian faith and a well-known part of the sworn testimony is a pledge to God to tell only the truth. By phrasing his sentence like that of the commonly known sworn testimony, Roosevelt put his character and faith on the line in order to show the American public that he would not lie to them. Roosevelt also directly connected to his audience by stating “(i)n such a spirit on my part and on yours we face our common difficulties” (American Rhetoric). Roosevelt realized that in order to make any change to the current economic situation both the Democratic and Republican Parties would have to be part of a unanimous crowd paving the way directed by the president. In drawing individuals out by relating to them, Roosevelt lessened the rift between the two parties and created a greater sense of the American need. Roosevelt also addressed the character of the American peoples themselves. Roosevelt alluded to the bible and promoted the goodness of American peoples when he said: ‘Yet our distress comes from no failure of substance. We are stricken by no plague of locusts” (American Rhetoric).

Roosevelt first addressed and validated the feelings of the audience, “(t)hese dark days will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men” (American Rhetoric). When Roosevelt mentioned “these dark days” he admitted to the failures of the American economy and encompassed all the problems that the American people faced. Roosevelt stated that those days would be “worth all they cost” which generated a feeling of relief in the audience as well as a reason behind why they were facing these days in the first place. If given a reward to look forward to, the American people could rest reassured that their sufferings would come to an end. Another way Roosevelt put fears to rest and peaked American emotion was when he noted that: “This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself” (American Rhetoric). One of the most memorable quotes from Roosevelt is “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself” this iconic statement further reassured the American people that their current situations would soon be resolved. Roosevelt also drew his audience in with a call to action, “(t)here are many ways in which it can be helped,