Student Essays in UI320
° FDR Essay 1
- Sarah Snyder, Spring 2008
- Cassie Linders, fall 2005
° FDR Assignment Page
FDR and the Creation of the Modern Presidency
Sarah
Snyder
8 February 2008
Dr. Renka
UI 320
When President Franklin Delano Roosevelt assumed the Presidency on March 4, 1933, he gained leadership of a deeply isolationist country struggling to survive a depression and yearning for change. When Roosevelt died twelve years and one month later, he had lifted the United States to world power status, provided recovery from economic depression, incorporated rhetoric as a means to reach the masses, and expanded the powers of the Presidency. In short, FDR had created the Modern Presidency. Through his New Deal Programs, his ability to increase the United States’ worldwide influence, his Fireside Chats, and his expansion of Presidential powers, Roosevelt became the first Modern President and established the precedent all future presidents were to follow.
In order to understand Franklin Roosevelt as the first modern President, it is crucial to examine how the “modern” presidency differed from past presidencies. Renka asserts that the modern presidency’s power comes from four features: “the rise of the United States to world power status, rise of the central government within the American federal system, creation of a modern electronic communication networks enabling the rhetorical presidency to expand, and the creation of a modern administrative apparatus for the president and the White House” (The Modern Presidency from Roosevelt through George W. Bush). Each of these came about under the “entrepreneurial leadership” of Roosevelt (Greenstein 3).
Roosevelt paved the United States’ path from isolation to power. When World War II broke out in Europe, the country was largely isolationist. “Isolationist rhetoric reflected real public sentiment, as Roosevelt knew” (Renka, The Modern Presidency…). Roosevelt, however, seemed a step ahead of the nation. He stood firmly against Hitler and strove to align the United States with Western democracies and to strengthen the military (Greenstein 20). In 1938, Roosevelt’s foreign policy speeches began to reveal an obvious swing away from isolationism (Renka, Roosevelt’s Expansion of the Presidency). When Churchill reported in 1940 that the United Kingdom could no longer afford to pay for American weapons, Roosevelt used this opportunity to increase the United States’ influence in European affairs and lean his country slightly away from isolationism. Knowing Congress would oppose a loan to the United Kingdom, he created an entirely new program he called “lend-lease” (Greenstein 20). This process of loaning armaments to Britain to be returned after the war allowed the United States to increase its European involvement and oppose Hitler without directly entering the war. It proved a critical first step in the growth of America as a world power. The process was completed when the United States was launched into two wars at once and “emerged with nuclear weapons, a robust economy, and a permanent economic and military presence in Europe and Asia” (Renka, Roosevelt’s Expansion…). As the first president of America as a super power, Roosevelt set leadership standards that have continued to today. Moreover, his New Deal legislation strengthened the central government’s authority both abroad and at home.
Roosevelt used his skills as a lawmaker to increase the power of the President and the central government. In the beginning of his first term, Congress passed an unprecedented amount of legislation during the “Hundred Days” between March 9 and June 6, 1933 (Greenstein 19). Roosevelt played a key role in the Hundred Days—“He approved policies, set strategies, met with legislators, explained his purposes, and courted the press” (Greenstein 19). Although a President had acted as “chief legislator” once before (Woodrow Wilson in 1913-1916), this role only became an expectation of Presidents after Roosevelt (Renka, The New Deal Political Coalition of Franklin D. Roosevelt). The Hundred Days were crucial in providing direct relief from depression, but a more appropriate model of the president as chief legislator comes from FDR’s creation of the New Deal political coalition (Renka, The New Deal…). FDR garnered support for his New Deal programs by granting policy payoffs for supportive factions instead of material rewards, as had been typical of the past (Renka, The New Deal…). For example, Renka points out that urban machines received work relief, organized labor received the right to organize and strike, and the West received public water projects (The New Deal…). This system redefined liberalism, which came to mean “using central government to expand rights” (Renka, The New Deal…). A wealth of economic and social welfare programs came into being, including Social Security, unemployment relief, WPA jobs, and minimum wage and hours law (Renka, The New Deal…). Such programs were intrinsically linked with the expanse of the Presidency and central government, and “the public took on greatly expanded expectations of what an American president could and should do in office” (Renka, The New Deal…). Undoubtedly, FDR’s New Deal programs led to the creation of a modern political coalition that greatly expanded the powers of the presidency. With the addition of new government programs, Roosevelt needed a means by which to communicate more effectively with the American people. His thirty Fireside Chats became the vehicle by which Roosevelt shared the most important elements of his agenda.
FDR became the first president to communicate personally with Americans across the nation at the same time. He utilized the radio to deliver his series of Fireside Chats in which he addressed citizens as “my friends.” His calm and encouraging rhetoric inspired Americans to renew their faith in banking and to trust Roosevelt’s administration. For the first time, Americans could listen to the President and feel personally connected to him. Rather than reading the president’s words in a newspaper, they could listen to his voice from the comfort of their living rooms. Roosevelt took care, however, to limit the frequency of his Fireside Chats so as not to overwhelm Americans. Roosevelt also captivated his audience with superior rhetoric skills in his formal addresses. Even though speechwriters composed most of his speeches, “Roosevelt’s oratory made poetry of even the least memorable prose” (Greenstein 16). Greenstein says plainly, “FDR sets a benchmark for his successors. His soaring rhetoric roused imaginations and stirred souls” (22). FDR was also the first president to give voice to the fact that Americans consider themselves different than other parts of the world: as a beacon of peace and democracy, the United States had “a rendezvous with destiny.” FDR established rhetoric as a vital part of the modern presidency, and his skills and public presence are traits successive presidents have hoped to emulate. In order to satisfy his goals, however, Roosevelt needed more than Americans’ support. He needed to expand his administrative authority.
Under Roosevelt, the demands of the president increased dramatically. With the creation of many new commissions and programs such as the TVA and the WPA, Roosevelt was unable to oversee every aspect of the expanding government on his own. The Brownlow Committee summarized this problem when it stated, “The President needs help” (Renka, Roosevelt’s Expansion…). As a solution, the 76th Congress passed the Reorganization Plan No. 1 which at last provided Roosevelt the help he needed through six administrative assistants. Roosevelt immediately took charge, issuing Executive Order 8248 on September 8, 1939 which created the first personal staff positions (Renka, Roosevelt’s Expansion…). Finally, the last element of reorganization occurred with the establishment of the Executive Office of the President, which put the Bureau of the Budget directly under presidential control (Renka, Roosevelt’s Expansion…).The creation of these basic administrative tools gave the president the ability to organize a vast agenda. Though Roosevelt’s tactic of pitting his aides against one another often led to “needless rivalries,” and is therefore unlikely to ever be modeled, FDR did succeed in laying “the groundwork for the organization-minded Harry Truman” (Greenstein 22-23). It is extremely difficult to imagine a current president fulfilling his duties without the assistance of these basic aide positions established under Roosevelt’s leadership.
Franklin Roosevelt redefined the American presidency. By leading America from an isolationist to a world power, strengthening the central government through the establishment of the New Deal Coalition, using encouraging rhetoric to establish a connection with Americans, and expanding the president’s administrative capabilities, Franklin Roosevelt set standards of leadership and conduct all current and future presidents would be wise to emulate.
Works Cited
Greenstein, Fred I. The Presidential Difference. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2004.
Renka, Russell. “The Modern Presidency from Roosevelt through George W. Bush.” 22 Jan. 2006. 6 Feb. 2008 <http:// http://cstl-cla.semo.edu/renka/ui320- 75/renka_papers/mod_pres.asp>.
Renka, Russell. “The New Deal Political Coalition of
Franklin D. Roosevelt.” 31 Jan. 2003. 7 Feb. 2008
<http://cstl-cla.semo.edu/renka/ui320-75/presidents/roosevelt/fdr-newdeal.asp >.
Renka, Russell. “Roosevelt’s Expansion of the Presidency.” 2 Feb. 2005. 8 Feb. 2008 <http:// http://cstl-cla.semo.edu/Renka/ui320-75/presidents/roosevelt/fdr-expansion.asp >.
FDR's Hand in Establishing the Modern Presidency
Cassie Linders
UI320-01 -
Professor Renka
15 September 2005
Franklin D. Roosevelt is proclaimed to be the first modern president of the United States. In fact, after a closer look, one could say FDR created the modern presidency. With his establishment of rhetoric as an important tool, he learned to speak directly to the American people, who then thought of him as a trustworthy person. FDR also established the United States' military base and put into motion many of the first steps towards alliances with other nations. His time in office also saw the addition of foreign policy as the executive office's job, as well as the creation of the Executive Office of the Presidency. All these additions in FDR's terms allowed him to define the executive's job, which helped to declare him the first modern president.
One of FDR's strong points was rhetoric. He used it as an effective means during his terms to communicate with the American people. Previously, rhetoric held little importance for presidents, but after FDR and the beginning of the modern presidency rhetoric was an important element of the job. As Greenstein says, 'FDR [provided] a benchmark for his successors (22). He also changed the context in which speeches were given. When past presidents, such as Lincoln, gave speeches, they were to commemorate things, such as graveyards and memorials. When FDR began his presidency, he changed that. His speeches were not just to commemorate things, they were to inform the public, as well as explain things to them. For example, when FDR took office he began the practice of giving 'Fireside Chats,' which effectively used the new technology of the time. By speaking to the public over the radio, FDR established a bond with American people. He did this because of the way he spoke. Not only was FDR calm when talking about serious subjects, like the banking crisis, he was never condescending to the American people either. By treating the American people as equals, and referring to them as 'my friends,' FDR made the American people want to listen to him, and furthermore, believe what he said. Through this great use of rhetoric, FDR caused the public to calm down about the banking crisis, and also to give the banks another chance. Over the course of twelve years in office, FDR gave several Fireside Chats, which helped to boost the public's opinion of him. At the same time he was giving public speeches, he was also establishing a bond with the White House reporters. Not only did FDR have a way with the American public, he also had a certain charisma and way of acting that made reporters like him as well. In fact, he 'met twice a week with the reporters assigned to the White House' (Greenstein 17). In doing this he created a positive relationship with the press, which guaranteed he was portrayed in a continuously good light to the public. Over his twelve years in office, FDR held 'nearly one thousand such meetings' (Greenstein 17) with the press. Because of FDR placing importance upon informing the public about the proceedings of the White House, the rhetorical presidency was incorporated as a subgroup in the evolving modern presidency.
Another way FDR helped establish the modern presidency and his place in it was by establishing the military and taking steps toward future world alliances. In 1938, FDR 'set out to align the United States with the Western democracies, embarking on a sustained effort to educate his nation to his views and build up its military capacity' (Greenstein 20). This creation of the United States as a world power helped boost the need for a more modernized presidency. As a result of establishing the presence of the United States, FDR was called upon to aid Britain during Germany's invasion. Because of FDR's charismatic ways, the 'lend-lease bill' was created under the explanation of lending your neighbor your garden house if his home caught on fire. FDR said as long as the neighbor later returns it; everything is the same as it was before (Greenstein 20). By using simple analogies and drawing upon public support, FDR succeeded in basically giving Britain weapons to use free of charge. This action also helped establish an alliance with Britain for the future. Though FDR did not realize it at the time, building up the military to establish the United States as a world power, would later lead to the realization of the United States as a superpower.
Foreign policy was also a job given to the President during FDR's time. The U.S. v. Curtiss-Wright Corporation, in 1936, gave the president control over foreign policy. The conservative Chief Justice George Sutherland asserted again and again that the President was the representative of the United States, so he must be given more power in foreign policy than in domestic policy (Renka). Because of this grant of foreign policy regulation to the executive, the presidency gradually became more powerful.
Not only did the president's role in government grow during FDR's terms, but so did the White House as a governmental institution. With everything the president was expected to do, he needed help. In 1939, Congress finally realized this and approved Reorganization Plan No. 1, which allowed the White House six personal administrative assistants to the President and created the Executive Office of the President. Soon after, FDR issued an executive order, which created formal staff positions. Surprisingly, these positions were filled with people who had expertise and not just a close friendship with the President. In the same year, the Bureau of the Budget was moved under presidential power as well (Renka). This move gave the executive office even more responsibility than before. With these changes, the presidency rapidly became a more important office than it ever had. It was now larger than before, and in charge of much more than it previously had been as well. This creating of a larger executive office, as well as his implementation of the New Deal programs is something FDR is remembered for.
What FDR is most known for is the New Deal, the campaign he ran to help America. When he took office, 'the nation was in the fourth year of a disastrous economic crisis' and 'a quarter of the labor force was out of work [and] the banks had been closed in thirty-eight states' (Greenstein 16). In order to remedy these problems and restore trust in the government, FDR enacted the New Deal in the Hundred Days legislation. Many of the programs created in the legislation are still around today in some form, continuing to show FDR's influence on the modern presidency. Such programs as the Works Progress Administration and The Tennessee Valley Authority helped poor Americans unable to get jobs or afford the luxury of electricity. These programs were some of the major reasons FDR was so popular during his terms in office. Also created was the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which insured the money in banks. This helped because then in the case of another bank crisis, people's money would not be lost. The FDIC was another reason, along with FDR's rhetoric, that people began to trust the banks and government again. One major policy FDR began was social security, which is still around today. When creating this idea of social security, it is clear he meant it to help the people, but also that he meant it to be permanent. FDR wanted, and received, a lasting effect on the government. By designing and implementing so many new programs and policies to help Americans, FDR showed what the extent of power could be in the modern presidency.
Through his talent for rhetoric and dealing with people in general, FDR created lasting relationships with the American people. He also strengthened those relationships by providing legislation to help them out of their economic troubles. FDR also pushed for things he wanted, such as help in the White House, leading to the Executive Office of the President and the control of the Bureau of the Budget under his control. He also helped America, although he did not know it, become a superpower after WWII. Because of all these things, FDR basically created the modern presidency. Through his use of rhetoric and explanation of things to the people, it became an important facet of the presidency. Also, the way he got the EOP created helped give the modern presidency the power and help it has now. His dealings with the increased military importance and foreign policy also granted the modern presidency more responsibility. Since all these parts of the presidency were created and first run by FDR, it is only fair to say that he was indeed the first modern president.
Works Cited
Greenstein, Fred I. The Presidential Difference: Leadership Style From FDR to George W. Bush. New Jersey: Princeton UP, 2000.
Renka, Russell D. Roosevelt's Expansion of the Presidency, 2 February 2005. Southeast Missouri State University. Accessed 14 September 2005, URL: ustudies.semo.edu/ui320-75/course/presidents/roosevelt/fdr-expansion.asp.