There are several moments in FDR's speech where he encourages the public to be patient and push through. Roosevelt knows the Depression was, well, depressing for most Americans, so it makes sense that a good part of his chat is encouraging a "hang in there" attitude.
Especially important for Roosevelt was urging patience—the banks had been closed, were about to open, and he fully expected people to rush out and withdraw money. By not opening every bank at once, the government could check on the situation and monitor as needed, but he was worried people might get upset that their personal bank had not yet opened.
Questions About Perseverance
- What words does FDR use to encourage perseverance and patience?
- What types of words or phrases might you use as president to encourage your nation to push through a hard time?
- What guarantee does Roosevelt have that his nation will heed his message and act accordingly?
Chew on This
Urging the public to persevere and stay patient through the bank holiday was of utmost importance in "First Fireside Chat" due to the fact that banks would be opening slowly…and due to the fact that nation had a tendency to panic.
In encouraging a "push through this" attitude, FDR connected with his people and provided the confidence needed to weather the storm.