The podcast discusses the Works Progress Administration and its role in alleviating the Great Depression, as well as the growing opposition to Roosevelt's policies. It also explores the sweeping reforms implemented by Franklin Roosevelt, the Federal Writers Project and New Deal art programs, the prejudice faced by Jewish baseball player Hank Greenberg, and the impact of the Flint sit-down strike on labor rights.
38:39
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) under President Roosevelt's New Deal provided much-needed employment for millions of Americans, reshaping the nation's infrastructure and economy.
The contrasting views of influential advisors Harry L. Hopkins and Harold Ickes on government intervention shaped the landscape of Roosevelt's New Deal initiatives, resulting in the creation of programs like the Civil Works Administration (CWA) and the Public Works Administration (PWA).
Deep dives
The Works Progress Administration: Bringing Needed Services and Infrastructure
During the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt implemented the Works Progress Administration (WPA) as part of his New Deal reforms. One major initiative of the WPA was the establishment of traveling libraries, known as pack horse librarians, in Kentucky and other states. These librarians, often riding for hours each day, delivered books and magazines to remote areas where access to literature was limited. Through the WPA, millions of Americans were put back to work, providing them with much-needed income and a sense of purpose. Despite criticisms from opponents who viewed government-funded initiatives as socialism, the WPA became one of Roosevelt's most popular and impactful programs, reshaping the nation's infrastructure and providing employment for millions.
Harry L. Hopkins and Harold Ickes: Rivalry over New Deal Initiatives
Harry L. Hopkins and Harold Ickes, influential members of President Roosevelt's inner circle, held contrasting views on the government's role in addressing the Great Depression. Hopkins, an advocate for direct work relief programs, believed that providing jobs to those in need would restore their dignity and boost the economy. In contrast, Ickes favored involving private partners in government-funded projects to stimulate economic growth. This difference in approach led to a rivalry between the two men, resulting in debates over the creation of programs like the Civil Works Administration (CWA) and the Public Works Administration (PWA). Ultimately, their competing ideas shaped the landscape of Roosevelt's New Deal initiatives.
The Works Progress Administration's Impact on Infrastructure and the Arts
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) made significant contributions to both the physical infrastructure and cultural landscape of the United States during the Great Depression. With a budget of $4 billion, the WPA funded the construction and improvement of parks, roads, schools, water pipes, and more. It also supported Federal Project No. 1, which encompassed programs in theater, visual arts, music, and literature. Artists like Dorothea Lange and writers like Ralph Ellison were among those funded by the WPA. These initiatives created jobs for 8.5 million people and transformed the appearance of America for years to come.
Father Coglin and the Battle for American Hearts and Minds
Father Charles Coglin, a Catholic radio preacher, gained immense popularity in the 1930s with his broadcast called the Golden Hour of the Little Flower. Starting as a religious program, Coglin shifted his focus to rail against communism, capitalism, and Wall Street titans. While avoiding blatant anti-Semitism, Coglin propagated stereotypes and conspiracy theories about Jews, the so-called international bankers. Coglin's growing rebellion against Roosevelt's New Deal policies and his shift towards fascism alarmed many. However, by 1942, Coglin's influence declined, and he was silenced by the Vatican and new postal service restrictions. His rise and fall marked a period of intense ideological conflicts during the Great Depression.
After two of President Roosevelt’s closest advisors competed to create a new federal jobs program, the White House launched one of Roosevelt's keystone initiatives: the Works Progress Administration. Under this program, millions of Americans earned government salaries at a wide range of blue- and white-collar jobs — everything from building post offices and painting murals to delivering library books by horseback to rural communities.
However, the federal government’s increased reach worried FDR’s opponents, especially a wildly popular Catholic radio preacher. Father Charles Coughlin once helped FDR get elected, but as the president’s power increased, Coughlin turned up the volume on hateful and anti-Semitic undertones in his attacks.
