For 12 years this nation was afflicted with hear-nothing, see-nothing, do-nothing government.

The nation looked to government, but the government looked away.

Nine mad years of mirage and three long years of despair.

Powerful influences strive today to restore that kind of government with its doctrine

that that government is best, which is most indifferent.

We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace, business and financial monopoly, speculation,

reckless banking, class antagonism,

sectionalism, war profiteering. They had begun to consider the government of the United States

as a mere appendage of their own affairs. We know now that government by organized money is

just as dangerous as government by organized mob.

Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they

stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me, and I welcome their hatred.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

in his closing campaign address

in Madison Square Garden,

October 31, 1936.

Welcome to the history

of the 20th century.

Music of the 20th century. Episode 297. A Rendezvous with Destiny

With the year 1936 came another presidential election in the United States.

Franklin Roosevelt meant to run for re-election and had every reason to be optimistic about his prospects.

The contrast between the four years of his term and the previous four years under Herbert Hoover could hardly have been starker.

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