In 1933, Franklin Roosevelt signed the New Deal, which was meant to save the U.S. economy and give the federal government a bigger role in civilian life and local government. The program was implemented from 1933 to 1939 and was broken down into three goals: relief, recovery, and reform. It all started with what become known as the First 100 Days, the period when Congress passed an unprecedented amount of legislation. The stricter regulations placed on banks, meant to reinstill the citizen’s trust in them, as well as the creation of many new organizations, the most widely known of which is the SSA, are probably the two most notable accomplishments of the New Deal. Today, we talk to Eric Rauchway about the infancy of the New Deal as well as its influence on the modern progressive movement.
Guest: Eric Rauchway is an American historian, author, and professor in the U.C. Davis Department of History. His books include Blessed Among Nations, The Money Makers, Murdering McKinley, and several others, including one based around today’s discussion, Winter War: Hoover, Roosevelt, and the First Clash Over the New Deal.