F.D.R. essays

F.D.R. essays Looking back on Depression-era America and its two most prominent leaders, it is imperative that neither one be characterized solely as an extreme liberal or extreme conservative. Rather, if the actions and achievements of each leader are observed with an unbiased eye, one will see that Roosevelt was primarily a liberal with the necessary touch of conservatism, and Hoover was primarily a conservative with a slight bit of liberalism. It is important to understand that the time period both Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt presided over was one which consisted of grave economic turmoil and widespread poverty for the American people caused by a bevy of internal and external factors, some of which couldve been remedied by extraordinary leadership. It is because of the immensely difficult problems America was experiencing at the time that in hindsight such scrutiny is placed upon the motives and political philosophies held by both FDR and Herbert Hoover. To find out how and a why a leader reacts to adversity when his country needs him most may perhaps prove the worth and greatness of that leader. Proof of Herbert Hoovers status as a staunch conservative lies in the fact that he maintained a strong resolve to adhere to traditional methods of restoring the economy during the Depression. In document B, Hoover expounds on his plan and outlook for dealing with the dire economic situation. Overall, Hoover distances himself from pledging to make any drastic changes. He condemns the usage of emergency legislative or executive action as a means by which to relieve the Depressions symptoms. Often referred to as a rugged individualist, Hoover was determined to use the established practice of free enterprise and fairly uninhibited capitalism to regain prosperity in the U.S. since these methods worked well in the past. It was his unwavering belief in free enterprise that discouraged hi...