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 * The Fireside Chats **

At the time that Roosevelt entered office, the country was in disarray. The economy was failing, and the government, so far, hadn't done very much. FDR knew he was going to have to do something. But the problem was, the people, the citizens, didn't trust anyone anymore. They had lost everything, and were trying not to lose anything else. But in order for the economy to succeed, the government needed the support of the people. One of his first acts as President was to reform the banks, but in order for the banks to succeed, Roosevelt needed the support of the people, and too do this, he decided to reassure the citizens through informal radio talks, called "fireside chats". He gave his first fireside chat on March 12th, 1933, the day before the banks reopened. In his talk he discussed, in simple terms, the New Deal. In this particular talk, he discussed citizen's support of the government and banks, and how this was necessary for overall success. He then took the time to explain how banks fail when too many people take out money. Soon people began to return their money to the banks. The importance is that these informal talks reassured the US citizens. It was as if Roosevelt was talking directly too them through the radio. They began to feel as if everything was going to get better.

Works Cited The Americans Holt McDougal. Student ed. Orlando Florida: Houghton, 2012. Print.