Transcript: Chapter 11

On October 24, 1929, the stock market crashed. It was the beginning of the worst calamity the United States economy had ever known. Banks closed, millions were put out of work. Homeless people were soon camping just a few blocks from the townhouse Sarah Roosevelt had built for Franklin and his bride years before. Eleanor gave instructions to the cook to provide anyone who came to the door with hot coffee and sandwiches.

David Ginsburg, FDR Administration: There's only one word that adequately describes it and that's surely despair -- a sense of helplessness, a sense of hopelessness. About a third -- imagine, a third -- of labor totally unemployed, 14 million people. There was a sense of fright, a sense of horror. It was a feeling that what was happening? Was it possible that something like this could occur in the country?

Narrator: Since the start of the Depression, the Republican president, Herbert Hoover, had settled into a dismal pessimism. After one gloomy White House meeting, his secretary of state said, "It was like sitting in a bath of ink to sit in his room." Hoover believed there was nothing he could do to turn the economy around. The crisis would have to resolve itself without the aid of government.

At first, Roosevelt agreed with Hoover. "Industrial and trade conditions are sound," he wired a newspaper the morning after the crash. But as the crisis deepened, Roosevelt began to change. All his life, he had believed that relief should come from private charities, but face to face with the problems of the Depression, he became convinced that only massive government intervention could help. For the first time, Roosevelt began to experiment with bold new ideas -- assistance for the aged and the country's first program to provide relief for the unemployed. "The important thing," he told the New York State Assembly, "is to recognize that there is a duty on the part of government to do something about this."

In 1932 President Hoover invited the nation's governors to a White House dinner. With his presidency in jeopardy, he wanted to size up the man from New York with the progressive programs, who was rapidly becoming the Democratic front-runner.

Alonzo Fields, White House Butler: And the night of the dinner, with a cane in his hand, he started going to the dining room, dragging his legs from his hips and supporting himself on the cane and his bodyguard's arm. And he walked at the angle, a 45-degree angle, to the table. And I was alerted to a nod that was telling me he was going to take the seat. Well, when he did, he literally fell in the seat, and that scene was witnessed by all the guests at the dinner table. And everybody said, "Well, that man, what is he thinking about? How is he going to be president? He's only a half-man."

Narrator: On July 1, 1932, after five tension-filled days at the Democratic National Convention, the delegates rallied behind the man who had fought his way back from despair.

Convention Speaker (archival): Franklin D. Roosevelt, having received more than two-thirds of all the delegates voting, I proclaim him the nominee of this convention for president of the United States.

Narrator: Now FDR was ready to begin the race he had been preparing for all his life.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, Democratic Presidential Nominee: This is more than a political campaign, it is a call to arms. Give me your help not to win votes alone, but to win in this crusade to restore America to its own people.

Narrator: He refused to let his crippled legs keep him from running hard and with confidence.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (archival): I used to say, "If I go to Washington on the 4th of March next," but now at very nearly the end of this swing, I am not saying, "if," I'm saying, "when."

President Herbert Hoover (archival): The great war against depression is being fought on many fronts in many parts of the world.

Narrator: His Republican opponent, the president of the United States, appeared overwhelmed by the Depression. One observer remarked, "If you put a rose in Hoover's hand, it would wilt."

Eli Ginzberg, FDR Administrator: He gave the impression to the American public that he was just out of control, and Roosevelt gave the impression that he knew what the country needed and he was going to give it to them.

Franklin D. Roosevelt: We face that crisis. We face it with singleness of purpose and above all with faith. Keep that faith constant, keep that faith high, so shall we win through to a better day.

Narrator: In spite of the crisis the country faced, it was a campaign of personalities. Americans wanted a leader and people everywhere warmed to the big smile, the confident toss of the head, clear delight in people.

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