When President Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn into office in 1933, the United States was mired in the worst financial period of its history.
FDR’s election came in the middle of The Great Depression, when unemployment reached 25 percent overall, and as high as 50 percent in some cities and industries. More than 9,000 banks closed in a four-year period, representing $2.5 billion in lost deposits.1
Yet, in his first presidential inaugural address, Roosevelt counseled Americans with his now-iconic statement that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”
The newly elected president’s words inspired confidence, but some of his first actions as president were just as impactful. FDR deployed two quick, decisive measures within his first week as president: (1) He declared an immediate weeklong bank holiday, and (2) he addressed the nation with a “fireside chat” radio speech to explain the banking problem.
In doing so, he calmed the populace’s fears, restored rational thought and demonstrated his ability to lead with courage and confidence. When the banks reopened, lines formed once again — this time for citizens to deposit the money they had withdrawn.
We believe how we cope with financial concerns can help determine our long-term success, both as a nation and in our own personal lives. Despite an economy that is significantly better than it was in the 1930s, having enough money in retirement is still a common concern.
According to government research, the two primary expenses in the average 75+ retiree’s household budget are housing (36.5 percent) and health care (15.6 percent), despite the fact that this demographic frequently has Medicare and a paid-off mortgage.2
It’s interesting to look back and analyze how FDR helped mitigate our nation’s greatest financial crisis, using decisive action, transparency and communication. His wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, once said of him, “I have never known a man who gave one a greater sense of security.”
Perhaps by considering the challenges President Roosevelt faced when he first took office, each of us can gain the courage to help face our retirement income concerns with confidence. Few people in U.S. history have had the calming effects FDR displayed in his nationally broadcasted speeches, but if there’s anything we can do to address your long-term financial goals, please give us a call.
Nate Miller
Miller Retirement Group
785-760-1165
Want to read more? Here are some articles that may be of interest to you:
[CLICK HERE to read the transcript, “Franklin D. Roosevelt: First Inaugural Address,” from Bartleby.com.]
[CLICK HERE to read the article, “Don’t Let Your Emotions and Fear Influence Your Investments” from Philadelphia Magazine, March 9, 2016.]
[CLICK HERE to read the article, “The Secret Shame of Middle-Class Americans” from The Atlantic, May 2016.]
[CLICK HERE to read the article, “What FDR Knew about Managing Fear in Times of Change” at Harvard Business Review; May 4, 2016.]
1HistoryMatters.com. “‘More Important Than Gold’: FDR’s First Fireside Chat.” http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5199/. Accessed May 25, 2016.
2Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. May 3, 2016. “Housing, Health Are ½ of Elderly’s Costs.” http://squaredawayblog.bc.edu/squared-away/housing-health-are-12-of-elderlys-costs/. Accessed May 25, 2016.
Content prepared by Kara Stefan Communications.
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