A collection of FDR's fireside chats presents them exactly as they were originally broadcast to explore a world of economic disaster, social reform, and international danger and to stress the importance of Roosevelt's leadership in American political history.

Roosevelt's 31 radio fireside chats are gathered together, with a general introduction that discusses the importance of Roosevelt in American political history, the rise of the radio as a political tool, and the way the president--aided by speech writers and advisers--prepared and delivered the chats. Issues of the day are explored in two additional introductory essays. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Reproduction of the original: The Fireside Chats by Franklin D. Roosevelt

“I want to talk for a few minutes with the people of the United States.” Thus began not only the first of Franklin Roosevelt’s celebrated radio addresses, collectively called Fireside Chats, but also the birth of the media era of the rhetorical presidency. Humorist Will Rogers later said that the president took “such a dry subject as banking and made everyone understand it, even the bankers.” Roosevelt also took a giant step toward restoring confidence in the nation’s banks and, eventually, in its economy. Amos Kiewe tells the story of the First Fireside Chat, the context in which it was constructed, the events leading to the radio address, and the impact it had on the American people and the nation’s economy. Roosevelt told America, “The success of our whole national program depends, of course, on the cooperation of the public—on its intelligent support and its use of a reliable system.” Kiewe succinctly demonstrates how the rhetoric of the soon-to-be-famous First Fireside Chat laid the groundwork for that support and the recovery of American capitalism.

Read Along or Enhanced eBook: Each Flash Points: Power On! eShort is a single chapter from the full Flash Points: Power On! title, packaged as a mini eBook. Flash Points: Power On! eShorts include The Telephone, The First Fireside Chat, Video Game Advancement, and The Future of Smartphones.

Selected letters originally published in The people and the president, c2002 by Beacon Press.

The Fireside Chats is the term used to describe a series of 30 evening radio conversations (chats) given by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt between 1933 and 1944. Roosevelt spoke with familiarity to millions of Americans about the promulgation of the Emergency Banking Act in response to the banking crisis, the recession, New Deal initiatives, and the course of World War II. On radio, he was able to quell rumors and explain his policies. His tone and demeanor communicated self-assurance during times of despair and uncertainty. Roosevelt was a great communicator on radio, and the fireside chats kept him in high public regard throughout his presidency. The series of fireside chats was among the first 50 recordings made part of the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress, which noted it as "an influential series of radio broadcasts in which Roosevelt utilized the media to present his programs and ideas directly to the public and thereby redefined the relationship between President Roosevelt and the American people in 1933."