The podcast discusses the 1936 American election, highlighting FDR's landslide victory and the pivotal role of the Supreme Court in shaping American democracy. It explores questions about economic freedom, the New Deal's impact, and the threats faced during that era, providing a fascinating insight into a crucial turning point in history.
Roosevelt's shift towards positive liberty redefined liberalism by emphasizing proactive government intervention for economic opportunities.
Supreme Court's 1937 backing of New Deal reforms marked a constitutional turning point, ensuring legitimacy for Roosevelt's key legislative achievements.
Deep dives
Roosevelt's Evolution from 1932 to 1936 Campaigns
Roosevelt's campaign in the 1932 election presented him as a balanced budget candidate, advocating sound public finances. Despite a vague description of the New Deal, he refrained from revealing its specifics. However, by 1936, Roosevelt shifted to positioning himself as the New Deal candidate, emphasizing a 'get the job done' campaign that focused on continuity while appealing to the public's hope for economic recovery.
Shift Towards Policies of Positive Liberty
Roosevelt's articulation shifted towards positive liberty, stressing the government's role in providing economic opportunities for individuals to be truly free. This concept represented a departure from classical liberalism's focus on limited government interference, embracing a more proactive government role in securing citizen well-being. By emphasizing addressing necessity for true freedom, Roosevelt redefined liberalism to align with social democratic principles, aiming to position individuals to pursue a better quality of life.
Supreme Court's Constitutional Declaration
In a critical constitutional moment, the Supreme Court in 1937 backed two key New Deal reforms: the National Labor Relations Act and the Social Security Act. The Wagner Act and Social Security were upheld due to a last-minute change in Justice Owen Roberts' vote, ensuring a constitutional foundation for Roosevelt's key legislative achievements. Although the dispute generated public discontent over Roosevelt's court-packing plan, the decisions marked a turning point in upholding the New Deal's constitutionality.
War as a Catalyst for New Deal Reforms and Keynesian Principles
The outbreak of World War II fundamentally transformed the implementation of Keynesian economic principles and solidified the New Deal's economic foundations. The pressing demands of total war forced the extensive utilization of deficit financing and government intervention, propelling economic measures beyond the limitations experienced during the 1930s. The war not only secured the New Deal's economic policies but also instilled a paradigm shift in democratic decision-making through Keynesian strategies.
The election of 1936 saw FDR re-elected in a landslide. It was also an election in which fundamental questions about the future direction of America were at stake. David and Gary discuss what made it a turning point for American democracy and ultimately for the wider world. Could the power of the Supreme Court be tamed? What was the true nature of economic freedom? And what threatened the New Deal - dissent at home or looming dangers abroad?
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Coming up: The election of 1980 and the arrival of Reaganomics.