Visited Franklin's and Eleanor's Graves Today

[MannyGoldstein]

At Hyde Park. They are buried in his mother's rose garden.

In the 1930s, they saved the US. At his inaugural, he said

"The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it: If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something."

He walked that walk: In his first 100 days as President, FDR passed more legislation than most Presidents pass in two terms. 15 major bills, if I recall correctly. Some worked, and some didn't (and were dropped). Economic decline was stopped and the country started climbing back up out of the abyss.

Franklin was unashamed of wanting to help working Americans, even at the expense of the "economic royalists". He said:

"These economic royalists complain that we seek to overthrow the institutions of America. What they really complain of is that we seek to take away their power. Our allegiance to American institutions requires the overthrow of this kind of power. In vain they seek to hide behind the flag and the Constitution. In their blindness they forget what the flag and the Constitution stand for. Now, as always, they stand for democracy, not tyranny; for freedom, not subjection; and against a dictatorship by mob rule and the over-privileged alike."

and

"I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made."

FDR's Liberal policies were so successful, and so popular, that the Republicans were crushed. By 1937, only 17 Republicans remained in the Senate. A more-or-less continuous Democratic majority was maintained in Congress for more than 60 years after Franklin won the presidency.

Did you know that FDR gave two press conferences every week! 997 in all, I'm told. Questions were not submitted in advance.

Of course, FDR also founded Social Security, which is now under attack.

I could go on and on about this amazing man, and his amazing wife who was his conscience and a force in her own right.

The US finds itself again in dire times. I only hope that we are so fortunate again to find such a great leader.

[Danger Mouse]

1. FDR was something else.

He is sorely missed in these times.

[msongs]

2. some presidents will do anything to avoid making "enemies" nt

[hlthe2b]

3. How badly we need another FDR (or another Eleanor)

Sadly, given all the political factors at play today, we may never see their like again...

[MannyGoldstein]

4. Things were pretty awful back then too nt

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Wow. Even this gets unrec-ed.

I guess that would be by the Hooverites. I guess they still live among us.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

9. Not by me.

I normally unrec anything that mentions unrec, but this is a good OP.

[Smarmie Doofus]

11. I've no doubt they are "among us", I can't quite understand...

>>>>>I guess they still live among us.>>>>>>


... what they are doing in this party.

But you're right; they're here.

[no_hypocrisy]

6. How did he do it? Did he have a filibuster-proof Senate or did Senators act

differently back then?

[pinboy3niner]

7. I visited the FDR Memorial in D.C. right after the '04 election

I'd gone out to Ohio to volunteer the final months for Kerry, and went to D.C. after the election. I'd never seen the FDR Memorial, and a friend took me there at the beginning of my visit, telling me, "You HAVE to see this."

The Memorial was beautiful, and wonderful and brought me to tears--especially with my visit coming on the heels of the campaign. FDR's words are very much a part of the memorial, and they are moving and inspiring.

For anyone visiting D.C., this should be a must-see. My friend was right. You HAVE to see this.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

10. It is... and especially lovely by night. (n/t)

[BurtWorm]

8. Where have you gone, Franklin and Eleanor

A nation turns its weary eyes to you.


(Woo woo woo?)

[Mimosa]

12. Manny, bless you.

I hope if prayers are listened to, yours and mine will be heard.

Have you ever seen that wonderful biopic movie about FDR and Eleanor titled "Warm Springs"? It's underrated. It enlightened me about why FDR was so compassionate towards many people who needed help.

Get it from Netflix if you haven't seen it. :)

On IMDB (a hard place for movies to get high ratings) "Warm Springs: gets a high rating it deserves.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0423510/

[MannyGoldstein]

15. Thanks for that tip!

I'll check it out.

There's another movie about FDR, "Sunrise at Campobello", that I'd like to see too.

[phasma ex machina]

17. Thanks for sharing. (I'm a Kenneth Branagh fan.) nt

[bvar22]

13. I am an FDR Democrat!

"In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.

Among these are:

*The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

*The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

*The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

*The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

*The right of every family to a decent home;

*The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

*The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

*The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

For unless there is security here at home there cannot be lasting peace in the world."---FDR

DAMN!!!
I miss THAT Democratic Party! :(

[Odin2005]

14. K&R +1,000,000,000,000

[Dawson Leery]

16. k/r

[davidpdx]

18. If you haven't read it I highly recommend No Ordinary Time

It's a long read, but well worth it.

[MannyGoldstein]

19. Thanks for the recommendation

I'm currently reading "Nothing to Fear: FDR's Inner Circle and the Hundred Days That Created Modern America", which is excellent:

http://www.amazon.com/Nothing-Fear-Hundred-Created-America/dp/B0028N72NU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1282834590&sr=8-2

[UTUSN]

20. K&R #26 n/t

[wookie72]

21. One of the bravest men to ever be president

I would put Lincoln slightly ahead.

Has anyone heard of Norquist's campaign to get Reagan on the dime? Is there anything we can do to make sure that never happens?

[asdjrocky]

22. That would be something to see.

Thanks for a badly needed post shinning with truth. K&R!

[Donnachaidh]

23. There is also a book out on his Second Bill of Rights

I'll have to dig it out for the title.

I for one will forever be skeptical of any future politician who promises to run the government *like FDR* on the campaign trail again. We really need FDR, but once burned twice shy. :shrug:

[Bryn]

24. Bookmarked

I posted FDR's quote on my facebook.

K&R