In 1933, a president on the radio was probably as weird as a president tweeting today.
We remember today another anniversary of President Roosevelt’s first fireside chat.
President Roosevelt’s first chat was to explain his decision to close the banks, an extremely sensitive topic in the middle of The Great Depression. It happened about a week after he became president.
During his presidency, FDR communicated often with US voters. At one point, he had voters buy maps so that they could follow him when he was talking about the strategic importance of this or that region to the war effort.
This is from a 1942 chat:
“That is the reason why I have asked you to take out and spread before you a map of the whole earth, and to follow with me the references which I shall make to the world-encircling battle lines of this war.
Many questions will, I fear, remain unanswered tonight; but I know you will realize that I cannot cover everything in any one short report to the people.”
It pays to stay in touch with the voters. It pays to explain your positions.