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Franklin Roosevelt, 1882-1945
Born Hyde Park, New York
The twentieth century saw the explosion of mass media, from print to television, and Franklin Roosevelt was an early political master of the radio airwaves. Having famously declared in his first inaugural address that the "only thing we have to fear is fear itself," he went on to say that "In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves." His famous "Fireside Chats," broadcast on the radio, seemed to speak directly to every American family listening in their homes and established a bond between the avuncular patrician and the ordinary people. Politics and political leadership was becoming more personal, and Roosevelt's mastery of the media showed his grasp of the new reality.
Unidentified artist, c 1940 |