With regards to "having a plan", it's my understanding that FDR

[hedgehog]

campaigned on a platform of fiscal responsibility including offering a balanced budget. Once elected, he consulted with everyone and the first thing he did was close all the banks, then come up with the New Deal.

Not to mention that Kennedy campaigned about the need to eliminate the "missile gap" and then went on to unilaterally stop atmospheric testing and sign the first Test Ban Treaty!