Fireside Chats

Summary

Features Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Fireside Chats that were used to inform and build support for his presidency. From 1933 to 1945, families would gather around their living room radio to listen to the president explain everything from why he was closing banks to declaring war on Japan following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Produced by the Speech Resource Company and fully narrated by Robert Wikstrom.

1. Bank Crisis, 3/12/33
2. New Deal Program, 5/7/33
3. Recovery Program, 7/24/33 (Summary)*
4. Economic Recovery, 10/22/33
5. Review of the 73rd Congress, 6/28/34
6. Commerce, Business, and Industrial Recovery, 9/30/34
7. Works Relief Program and Social Security Legislation, 4/28/35
8. Drought, “Dust Bowl,” 9/6/36
9. Reorganization of the Judiciary, 3/9/37
10. Calling for a Special Session of Congress, 10/12/37
11. Unemployment Census, 11/14/37
12. Current Economic Conditions, 4/14/38
13. Campaigning for Democrat Party, 6/24/38
14. Escalating War in Europe, 9/3/39
15. National Defense, 5/26/40
16. War Supplies to England, 12/29/40
17. Proclaiming Unlimited National Emergency, 5/27/41
18. Maintaining Freedom of the Seas, 9/11/41
19. Declaration of War with Japan, 12/9/41
20. Progress of the War, 2/23/42
21. National Economic Policy, 4/28/42
22. Inflation, Food Price Stabilization, and the War, 9/7/42
23. Home Front Optimism, 10/12/42
24. Coal Miners’ Strike, 5/2/43
25. Fall of Mussolini and Plans for Peace, 7/28/43
26. War Loan Drives, 9/8/43
27. War Conferences, 12/24/43
28. State of the Union, 1/11/44
29. Fall of Rome, 6/5/44
30. Fifth War Loan Drive, 6/12/44

*Chat #3 was not recorded. This track contains a summary of the address.