FDR's Fireside Chats
When Franklin D. Roosevelt took office as America's new president in 1933, he wanted to connect with Americans who were suffering through the Great Depression.
FDR, as he was known, decided to use the relatively new medium of radio to address the nation. Radio broadcasting in America had begun in the 1920s and by the time FDR took office, most homes had a radio.
From 1933 - 1944, FDR regularly addressed the nation over the radio on various topics. These conversations were known as “fireside chats” because they were comforting and fairly casual.
For many Americans, it felt like FDR was sitting by the fire in their living room and chatting with them one-on-one.
FDR’s first fireside chat was on March 12, 1933, just a week after he was inaugurated. Throughout the first few years of his administration, he assured the American people that he was putting in place proper measures to combat the Great Depression.
He spoke about his New Deal and its programs designed to help provide employment and economic relief.
On April 28, 1935, FDR announced new policies that would be part of the Second New Deal, such as the Social Security Act and more work relief programs.
FDR explained that Social Security would help the elderly, who were struggling more during the Great Depression, and also provide unemployment insurance to help cushion the shock of unemployment.
As much of the administration’s focus started to move from the Great Depression to the start of World War 2, so did the focus of the fireside chats.
On September 3, 1939, when World War 2 was just beginning, FDR assured the American people that the US would try to remain neutral and stay out of the war. FDR also assured everyone that information would not be withheld and that the American people were “the best informed people in all the world.”
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, FDR addressed the nation in a fireside chat that night, informing everyone that America was officially joining World War 2 to fight for peace and liberty.
On October 12, 1942, FDR updated the American people about the war and also urged all people, including women and even high school students, to join the workforce to ramp up production for war materials.
FDR went on to broadcast a total of 31 fireside chats. It was the first time in history that the majority of people in a nation could listen directly their leader.
They made the American people feel like the president was talking directly to them. Though the topics were serious, many people felt comforted by FDR’s casual and conversational tone.
They helped inform people about what the federal government was planning and are often credited with helping keep Roosevelt's popularity high.
You can listen to his first fireside chat here: