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Carver Murphy
Professor Babcock
English 137H
2 October 2013
A Rhetorical Analysis of Franklin D. Roosevelts First Inaugural Speech
The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself; these are some of the most famous words
in American history. They are famous, not only because they were given in a brilliant inaugural
speech, but because they characterized the solution to a great crisis. When Franklin Delano
Roosevelt (FDR) spoke these words on the East Portico of the U.S. Capitol in 1933, he knew he
was about to set forth on a great journey. In his address, Roosevelt described to the American
people the problems they were facing, the solutions to those problems, and how he was going to
go about implementing those solutions. His speech was brilliant in its ability to bring the
American people behind his administration, to gain their support for his policy initiatives, and to
make them believe he was the man they needed to lead them.
In March of 1933, the United States was in the Grips of the Great Depression.
Unemployment had reached almost 25% of the population and was even higher in some places.
The financial crash in 1929 had caused banks across the country to fail, people to lose their life
savings, and the economy to fall back on its heels. The previous President, Hoover, had not done
much to restart the economy because he believed, as did many at the time, it would restart itself.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt knew his job was going to be getting the American people back to
work. Although the economy didnt get into full swing until the Second World War, FDRs
inaugural speech laid out the first steps to economic recovery (The Great Depression).

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To do this, Roosevelts speech was heavily centered on one theme; trust. Trust was so
integral to his plans that he, almost immediately, laid out the theme of his speech with these
words: The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. It was crucial that the American people be
convinced by him to trust, understand, and support his administration; that they did not fear the
new policy initiatives. Roosevelt also began by establishing his role as the leader of the United
States and, more importantly, responsibility for the New Deal as his measures would come to
be called. He says the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly in his
opening phrases (American Rhetoric). This is an example of his attempt, at the very beginning of
his speech, to convince the American people to trust him; he asked, in an assumptive, yet
compelling, way:
In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with
that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I
am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.
(American Rhetoric)
FDR used these words to, almost, guilt the public into supporting him, as they had other
Presidents. Roosevelt continued to cultivate fellowship and trust with phrases like we face
common difficulties and our own national house later on during his speech (American
Rhetoric).
Roosevelt then established the problems that faced the American people in the times to
come. It is important to note that before he listed them, he contended that they are only material
things. in effect this belittled them and made them less worthy of fear (American Rhetoric). The
list of problems was extensive but primarily included:
Values have shrunken to fantastic levels; taxes have risen; our ability to pay has
fallen; government of all kinds is faced by serious curtailment of income; the

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means of exchange are frozen in the currents of trade; the withered leaves of
industrial enterprise lie on every side; farmers find no markets for their produce;
the savings of many years in thousands of families are gone. (American Rhetoric)
Roosevelt was planning a massive expansion of government and its role in the lives of
the average citizen. He listed these problems so the American people could visualize the
problems they faced. This was the logic behind his new measures; and without the full
understanding, by the people, of the problems Roosevelts administration would address, they
wouldnt accept his solutions. Although these problems seemed numerous and insurmountable to
the people, Roosevelt belittled them and promised solutions.
After garnering a trust and support for his plans and clearly explaining the problems he
planned on addressing, he devoted the next section of his speech to actually laying out his plans.
He laid out plans to fix foreclosures on homes and small farms, to unify work efforts, to make
agricultural profitable again, and for national planning for and supervision of all forms of
transportation and of communications and other utilities which have a definitely public
character (American Rhetoric).
Roosevelt made it clear that he would be acting inside his constitutional powers. This was
another crucial step toward cultivating support for his New Deal. He announced; I shall
presently urge upon a new Congress in special session detailed measures for their fulfillment,
and I shall seek the immediate assistance of the several States. (American Rhetoric). This was a
crucial part of his speech. His credibility and trust hinged on the acceptance of these policy
measures by the American people; acceptance he also called for from Congress. Although
Congress would approve his measures, Roosevelt declared he would assume unhesitatingly the

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leadership of this great army of our people dedicated to a disciplined attack upon our common
problems. (American Rhetoric). He would echo these sentiments once more saying:
I am prepared under my constitutional duty to recommend the measures that a stricken
nation in the midst of a stricken world may require. These measures, or such other
measures as the Congress may build out of its experience and wisdom, I shall seek,
within my constitutional authority, to bring to speedy adoption. (American Rhetoric)
He also expressed:
It is to be hoped that the normal balance of executive and legislative authority may be
wholly adequate to meet the unprecedented task before us (American Rhetoric)
Without these statements, some might say threats, Congress may not have supported him
and the people of the United States may not have supported him. His determination in many
ways was necessary to compel these actions.
All of these rhetorical measures that Roosevelt used created trust, established the
problems the nation faced and a plan of action, assigned responsibility, and quelled the fears of
too much government control. They were again exemplified with the speechs main theme: The
only thing we have to fear is fear itself. The speech showed the American people what they
already knew; that the United States clearly had problems. But those problems, according to
Roosevelt, could and would be solved by the measures he set forth. Under his leadership, with
the assistance of Congress and the trust of the American people, he promised to bring the nation
toward economic recovery. They needed not fear the future, they needed only to work together.
In a final attempt to convince the people, to gain all the support and credibility he could,
Roosevelt concluded his speech with a few lines that contained all aspects of rhetoric. He told

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the American people they were not wrong, they had asked him to lead and he accepted this
responsibility whole-heartedly. He said:
We do not distrust the future of essential democracy. The people of the United
States have not failed. In their need they have registered a mandate that they want
direct, vigorous action. They have asked for discipline and direction under
leadership. They have made me the present instrument of their wishes. In the
spirit of the gift I take it.
In this dedication of a Nation we humbly ask the blessing of God. May He protect
each and every one of us. May He guide me in the days to come. (American
Rhetoric)
In his speech, Roosevelt explained to the American people the problems they were
facing, the solutions to the problems, and how he was going to go about putting those solutions
in place. His address brought the American people behind his administration and its policies. He
was also successful in convincing the people that he should be the one to lead them. The theme
of the speech later became some of the most famous words in American history because it
defined, not only the speech, but the era that would come after it as well. Roosevelt successfully
ushered in an era of new hope to a land torn by poverty and depression.

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"American Rhetoric: Franklin Delano Roosevelt - First Inaugural Address." American Rhetoric:
Franklin Delano Roosevelt - First Inaugural Address. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2013.
<http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrfirstinaugural.html>.
"The Great Depression." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 08 Oct. 2013.
<http://www.history.com/topics/great-depression>.