Fireside Chat

FDR's - Fireside Chats

We live in an era of instantaneous and constant communications, yet many of our political leaders seem to have lost the ability to express their ideas to the people they govern. Franklin Roosevelt not only knew how to do that, he elevated the task to that of an art. In this lesson, I hope you will gain a sense of the dramatic effect of FDR's voice on his audience, see the scope of what he was proposing in these initial speeches, and make an overall analysis of why the Fireside Chats were so successful.

I never saw him—but I knew him. Can you have forgotten how, with his voice, he came into our house, the President of these United States, calling us friends..."

—Carl Carmer, April 14, 1945 

Learning Objective:

Alright scholars, in the process of completing this lesson, you will and should be able to:

• Explain how FDR combined the content of the New Deal with the power of his Fireside Chats to move the country forward in 1933
• Explain the details of the first two of FDR's Fireside Chats
• Analyze and evaluate the overall effectiveness of the Fireside Chat

FIRST STEP - 

• Please listen to the First Fireside Chat. You can access the text and a link to an audio clip of the First Fireside Chat.
  After listening to a portion of the speech, you will work together to determine the main points that FDR is making. You should focus on and answer the following items in your notebook under the heading - The First Fireside Chat 1933.
• The key elements of the bank holiday he has announced.
• Specific examples of how he explains the banking system.
• Examples of simple, yet powerful imagery and language that he employs.
• The overall effectiveness of the speech

SECOND STEP -

Please read the Second Fireside Chat to get a sense of how different it is to read the speech, rather than to listen to FDR's words. 

• Work collaboratively to understand the major issues that FDR is addressing in this speech. Generate a list within your notebook regarding the different programs that he is proposing under the heading - The Second Fireside Chat 1933.

THIRD STEP -

Review five letters responding to the first Fireside Chat at the following link: Letters From Listeners

FOURTH STEP -

Within this blog, in the form of a comment, you may write on one of the following options. 

1. Write a formal letter to FDR, taking on a personality from the 1930's, in which you respond to what you have just heard during the first Fireside Chat, making sure to address both the content and style of the speeches. You may agree or disagree with the message relayed in his Chat.
2. Write a formal response that may appear on an editorial page of a newspaper on the day after the first Fireside Chat, commenting on the newness of the medium, the content of the speeches, and the structure, tone, and language of the Chat.  You may agree or disagree with the message relayed in his Chat.

• You may not just regurgitate a response from step three of this lesson. 
• Be creative but also formal.
• All responses should be written in proper paragraph form.