Semester two blog #8

Compare and contrast Barack Obama and Franklin Delano Roosevelt as presidents. Be sure to cover topics such as their responses to the economy, their interactions with the American public and their relationships with other elements of the US government (feel free to write about more, too!).


FDR:

- Had good inspirational things to say

- Had different views then Hoover and believed the government needed to aid the public

- Suggested that parties work together rather than against each other

- FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)

- Assassination attempt


Obama:

- In favor of 7 million dollar bailout

- Was wildly popular just after the election

- State of the Union (2 parties work together to fix the economy)

- Blames banks "Wall Street"

- The highest 5% of the population received about a third of all personal income.

- Industrial production fell 50%

FDR (cont'd)

- FDR established many reconstruction agencies (incorporated new agencies to help the economy)

- FDR Made Social Security (Set it up)

- Went on the radio a couple times each year so the country would feel comfortable with what he was doing in office and he could present it in a personal way

- Established the FERA (Federal Emergency Relief Administration), which granted $500 million to state agencies for direct relief (That was the part of the New Deal)

- One of the reasons his bills were passed in congress was because FDR was extremely popular and respected

- FDR started the WPA (Works Progress Administration) and the REA (Rural Electrification Administration) which helped finance construction and electric projects (Helped schools, hospitals, etc.)