|
FDR Radio Broadcasts: Fireside Chats
|
Fireside Chats
Franklin D Roosevelt was
the 32nd American President who served in office from March 4, 1933 to April 12, 1945. One of the important events during his presidency was
his direct method of radio communication with Americans
called the Fireside Chats.
Fireside Chats Facts: Fast Fact Sheet
Fast, fun facts, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
about the Fireside Chats.
What were the Fireside Chats? The Fireside Chats
were a series of thirty important radio
broadcasts made by Franklin D. Roosevelt as
a means to directly talk to Americans in
times of crisis and national importance.
What was the Purpose of the Fireside Chats? The
purpose of the
Fireside Chats was to convey important
information and reassure Americans during
difficult times of the Great Depression and
WW2.
When did FDR make his Fireside Chats?
FDR made his Fireside Chats
in times of national crisis and importance.
He broadcast a total of 30 fireside chats
between 1933 and 1944. They ended with his
untimely death on April 12, 1945.
Where did the Fireside Chats take place? The
majority of broadcasts of the Fireside Chats
were made from the White House but a few
of his 'Fireside Chats' were also made from Hyde Park.
Why were the Fireside Chats important?
The significance and impact of the Fireside Chats
should not be under estimated. The Fireside Chats provided immediate access to the
population, relayed important information, inspired confidence and
patriotism, conveyed a personal touch and increased the popularity
of FDR. The Fireside Chats allowed the president to speak directly to
the people reducing the control of Conservative dominated newspapers
gaining public approval of FDR’s actions and initiatives and
Democratic ideals and principles.
Fireside Chats
Facts for kids
The following fact
sheet contains interesting facts and information on Fireside Chats
for kids.
Facts
about the Fireside Chats for kids
Fireside Chats Fact 1:
The radio was
still a relative novelty. The
first radio broadcast was made by KDKA from
the Westinghouse Electric buildings on Tuesday, November
2, 1920. By the end of the 1920s there were
over 100 million radios in use in America. When Franklin
Roosevelt assumed the presidency about 65% of Americans
had access to the radio and FDR used the medium for his
Fireside Chats. For history and facts refer
American Radio History.
Fireside Chats Fact
2: Before FDR, all the
US Presidents had communicated with the American people
through newspapers. The advent of radio allowed FDR to
reduce the power of the press that was governed by their
editorial policies. Many expressed Republican views and
were quick to criticize the Democrat president - the
'fireside chats' allowed FDR to address any concerns.
The Fireside Chats enabled him to directly express the reasons for his
policies, actions and initiatives using a highly
personal and "down-to-earth" approach with words that
everyone could understand, but were never condescending.
Fireside Chats Fact 3:
The radio broadcasts were a
perfect communication vehicle for FDR, who was an excellent orator.
He had a calm, reassuring voice and this, together with his
confident, reasoned, determined, fearless approach, inspired
Americans with "courage and confidence" during periods of national
crisis. He was able to gain popular support for his actions and
became one of the most popular presidents in the history of the
United States.
Fireside Chats Fact
4: The introduction
of the radio was fortuitous for President Roosevelt
enabling him to communicate directly with millions of
Americans via his Fireside Chats. The radio was especially convenient for FDR
because it enabled him to hide his polio symptoms from
the public eye. Many had observed that had Roosevelt run
for the presidency in modern times he would never have
been elected president.
Fireside Chats Fact
5: Although the fireside chats
sounded relaxed and informal, the impact and content of his
broadcasts were shrewdly calculated to ensure they had the maximum
effect.
Fireside Chats Fact
6: The timing of the fireside
chats was crucial. The broadcasts were always made in the evening
and timed for when people had finished their dinner and were relaxed
and settling down in their living rooms to listen to their favorite
radio programs.
Fireside Chats Fact
7: President
Roosevelt ended his Fireside Chats with a reference to the help
of God or Providence, urging Americans to face the
difficult tasks ahead with faith, patience, courage and
understanding.
Fireside Chats Fact 8:
“The Star Spangled
Banner” was played at the end of every broadcast,
underlining the role of every American during hard times
and the highly patriotic message of the lyrics. Refer to
the
Meaning Lyrics of Star Spangled Banner.
Fireside Chats Fact
9: The very first of the 'Fireside
Chats' was made by FDR on Sunday March 12, 1933, just
over a week after he had assumed the presidency. The
nation was experiencing the devastating effects of the
Great Depression and the new president
had told the nation in his inaugural speech on March 4,
1933 that:
Fireside Chats Fact 10:
In his first 'fireside chat'
FDR explained to the American people why he declared a
National Bank Holiday - and temporarily closed all the banks.. It
was the start of the measures that the president would adopt during
FDR's First Hundred Days.
When the banks reopened the following day on
Monday 13 March, 1933, people demonstrated their belief and
confidence in FDR by making more deposits than withdrawals and the
Banking Crisis was over.
Fireside Chats Fact 11:
On Sunday, May 7, 1933
President Roosevelt outlined the New Deal Program based on three
simple headings - Relief, Recovery and Reform. On Monday, July 24,
1933 President Roosevelt described the Purposes and Foundations of
the New Deal Recovery Program.
Continued...
Facts
about the Fireside Chats for kids
Facts
about the Fireside Chats for kids
The following fact
sheet continues with facts about Fireside Chats for kids.
Facts
about Fireside Chats for kids
Fireside Chats Fact 12:
President Roosevelt would give
over 30 informal fireside chats during his presidency. He made
numerous other more formal speeches using the other conventional
methods of communication but the 'Fireside Chats' were special
events and reserved for difficult times of national crisis. The most
important 'Fireside Chats' are detailed below.
Fireside Chats Fact 13:
On Sunday, April
28, 1935 he provided the Works Relief Program aimed at
relieving unemployment and addressing the plight of
poverty-stricken Americans. Refer to the
List of FDR New Deal
Programs.
Fireside Chats Fact 14:
On Sunday,
September 6, 1936 President Roosevelt reported on the
Drought Conditions. A series of terrible droughts had
hit the nation resulting in the Black Blizzards that
contributed to the devastation of 100 million acres of
farming land in the prairie states and the destitution
of the farmers in the
Dust Bowl.
Fireside Chats Fact 15:
On Sunday,
November 14, 1937 President Roosevelt reported on the
Unemployment Census and the impact and effects of the
New Deal Programs.
Fireside Chats Fact 16:
On Sunday,
September 3, 1939 FDR addressed the nation on the
subject of the war in Europe and followed this on
Sunday, May 26, 1940 by another of his Fireside Chats on National
Defense.
Fireside Chats Fact 17:
FDR continued the
theme of National Security on Sunday, December 29, 1940
and explained that neutral America must be "must be the
great arsenal of democracy". The term "arsenal of
democracy" referred to the supply of "implements of
war", primarily to Great Britain, and the need for war
production. FDR also spoke of the devastation caused by
the Luftwaffe Blitz on London.
Fireside Chats Fact 18:
On December 9,
1941, two days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
(December 7, 1941), President Roosevelt announced the
Declaration of War with Japan. FDR urged the nation to
steel itself for casualties and sacrifices. He
emphasized that Germany and Italy were also grave
threats to America but stopped short of declaring war on
these two nations.
Fireside Chats Fact
19: On Tuesday, May
27, 1941, President Roosevelt made what would be the
longest of his Fireside Chats, in the Proclamation of
Unlimited National Emergency. In his chat FDR vilified
the Nazis and called for Americans to “take loyal part
from this moment forward” in the war effort to help the
Allied Forces. He asserted that the U.S. has not
declared war, but was fully involved in aiding its
allies.
Fireside Chats Fact
20: The Map Speech: On
Monday, February 23, 1942 reported on the progress of
the War and asked American families to have a map to
help follow the references he would make to different
countries - it would be referred to as the Map Speech.
The war was not going well for the Allies at this time,
but instead of hiding this from the nation he approached
the subject with honesty saying "...your government has
unmistakable confidence in your ability to hear the
worst, without flinching or losing heart."
Fireside Chats Fact
21: On July 28, 1943
FDR reported on the Fall of Mussolini, the progress of
the War and assured the American public that the Allies
were already planning for a postwar world
Fireside Chats Fact
22: On Friday,
December 24, 1943, after his extensive trip through the
Middle East and the Mediterranean, President Roosevelt
reported of his successful meetings in Cairo and Teheran
with Churchill, Stalin, and Chiang Kai-shek.
Fireside Chats Fact
23: On Monday, June 5,
1944, on the eve of D-Day, the president
enthusiastically announced the Fall of Rome, but
reminded Americans that there were more confrontations
ahead.
Fireside Chats Fact
24: Monday, June 12,
1944 was the last of the fireside chats by President
Roosevelt, in which he spoke about the progress of the
war and urged all Americans to buy war bonds.
Fireside Chats Fact
25: The end of the war
in Europe was in sight but on April 12, 1945 President
Franklin D. Roosevelt suddenly died from a massive
cerebral hemorrhage. Vice President Harry S. Truman was
left in charge of a country that was still fighting the
Second World War.
Fireside Chats Fact
26: During his series
of Fireside Chats President
Roosevelt had talked to Americans as if he had been
invited into their homes and were chatting, like
friends, around the fireside. The following quote
typifies the feeling of Americans who experience the
impact of the fireside chats throughout his presidency:
Facts
about Fireside Chats for kids
Facts
about
Fireside Chats for kids
For visitors interested in the history of
the Great Depression refer to the following articles:
Fireside Chats - President Franklin Roosevelt Video
The article on the Fireside Chats provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. The following
Franklin Roosevelt video will
give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 32nd American President whose presidency spanned from March 4, 1933 to April 12, 1945.
Fireside Chats
●
Interesting Facts about Fireside Chats for kids and schools
●
Summary of the Fireside Chats in US history
●
Fireside Chats of important, key
events
●
Franklin Roosevelt
Presidency from March 4, 1933 to April 12, 1945
●
Fast, fun facts about the Fireside Chats
●
Foreign & Domestic
policies of President Franklin Roosevelt
● Franklin Roosevelt Presidency and
Fireside Chats for schools,
homework, kids and children |
