He also passed amendments to the hated Volstead Act which had created prohibition. To name but a few: in those 100 days he declared a bank holiday which stopped the disastrous run on the banks, he took America off the gold standard, and he passed groundbreaking legislation for farmers and homeowners and for the unemployed. It was the breathtaking scope of bold and new actions, both legislative and regulatory, that set the bar so high. Roosevelt’s inaugural address is memorable for the phrase “we have nothing to fear but fear itself.” And less than two weeks after that he gave the first of many fireside chats-explaining over the radio, in simple terms, what was happening to Americans and how he would fix it.īut Roosevelt’s rhetoric and mastery of the new medium of radio were not what made him the president who is remembered for the first 100 days. Thus he successfully orchestrated a complete break from the past and a new start with the American people.įDR’s ability to talk to America is without equal in the 20 th century and in 1933 it was an especially dramatic contrast to the stern and uncaring policies of his predecessor Herbert Hoover, who had vetoed several relief bills.
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According to historians, his sense of political theater led him to avoid President Hoover’s attempts to involve him in dealing with the overwhelming crises before the country. Elected in the midst of a great depression, Roosevelt kept out of the fray during the long transition period between Election Day 1932 and Inauguration Day on March 4, 1933. It came from the presidency of Franklin D. So where did this come from and why do we still talk about it? David Alexrod, a top aide to President Obama once called it a “Hallmark Holiday”-lots of attention but no significance. It is a somewhat arbitrary and artificial milestone.
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In the first hundred and forty-four years of the Republic no one made a big deal about the 100-day mark. Why 100 days? There is no constitutional or statutory significance to the first 100 days of a president’s term. As we approach President Biden’s first 100 days in office many will use the occasion to evaluate his performance.