Franklin D. Roosevelt served longer than any other president in American history. Taking office in a time of crisis, he led the American people through two of the 20th century's greatest crises with extraordinary wisdom: the Great Depression and World War II. He is hailed as one of America's greatest presidents, alongside Washington and Lincoln.
This book brings together 30 of Roosevelt's fireside chats from different periods, long and short alike. They range from his first talk on banking in 1933 to his fifth talk on the war bond drive in 1944. Covering a wide range of subjects, including employment, finance, elections, war, legislation, and energy, these talks are rich in content. They greatly advanced the implementation of the New Deal, not only leading America out of the Great Depression but also ushering the country into modern society.
Through a conversational, almost homely style of communication, these talks showcase Roosevelt's remarkable command of language: calm and warm, with a clear logical focus, yet seemingly delivered off the cuff. They are a model of practical rhetoric. The Fireside Chats has consequently long been regarded as a classic collection of speeches and a landmark work on political history.
