How we cite our quotes: (Sentence)
Quote #1
I had before my eyes the picture of all those Americans with whom I was talking. I saw the workmen in the mills, the mines, the factories, the girl behind the counter, the small shopkeeper, the farmer doing his spring plowing, the windows and the old men wondering about their life's savings. (5-6)
FDR was nothing if not a good public speaker. Remember, he did most of his talking over the radio, so people couldn't see the expressions on his face. It was all about his voice, his words, and the way those pieces fit together, and that's especially apparent when he talks about all these different people. A democratic government depends on farmers and workmen and shopkeepers, on the rich and the poor and everyone in between, to function successfully.
For FDR's plan to work, he needed the American people to remember the nation had survived the Great Depression by working together, and they needed to prepare to do that again.
Quote #2
Some of them even suggest that we should imitate the methods of the dictatorships. But Americans never can and never will do that. (88-89)
Not only do the principles of a dictatorship disagree completely with American democracy, it's also just plain icky. People don't have any power, or the right to fight for things they disagree with. Freedom as we know it in the United States doesn't exist in a country ruled by a dictator, and FDR knew staying out of the war wasn't worth it if democracy was at risk of being compromised.
Quote #3
They may talk of a "new order" in the world, but what they have in mind is only a revival of the oldest and the worst tyranny. In that there is no liberty, no religion, no hope. (106-107)
The thing about Nazi propaganda is that everyone in the free world knew they were talking crazy. The Allies could plainly see that Germany had no intention of protecting the countries it invaded—instead, the Axis wanted complete control, and they were willing to do whatever it took to make that happen. There's no freedom or hope in a world like that, and it completely goes against American democracy.