第 9 章
From Depression to Superpower: FDR to Reagan
Franklin D. Roosevelt took office on March 4, 1933, declaring war on the Great Depression in his inaugural address. Speaking with confidence, he railed against greed and requested expanded executive powers to implement his "New Deal"-promising to get Americans working, insure savings, and provide government care for the elderly and sick. His most famous line reassured a desperate nation: "The only thing we have to fear... is fear itself."
Roosevelt's first days in office were marked by frantic activity. Within days, he ordered a weeklong "bank holiday" to halt closures and convened a special session of Congress to push his New Deal agenda. During his historic "First Hundred Days," Roosevelt signed a record seventy-seven laws creating jobs, protecting farmers, and establishing massive public works projects like the Tennessee Valley Authority and Civilian Conservation Corps.
When Nazi Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, starting World War II, Roosevelt faced strong anti-war sentiment while secretly aligning with Winston Churchill. After Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941, Roosevelt addressed Congress with his famous "date which will live in infamy" speech. As wartime president, Roosevelt aged dramatically, his health deteriorating from years of smoking and overwork. On April 12, 1945, while resting in Warm Springs, Georgia with his mistress Lucy Mercer, Roosevelt complained of a headache before collapsing. He died from a cerebral hemorrhage at 3:35 p.m., aged sixty-three.
Harry S. Truman's vice presidency lasted just three months before Roosevelt's death thrust him into the presidency on April 12, 1945. "I felt like the earth, the stars, and all of the planets had fallen on me," he later recalled. On August 6, 1945, Truman authorized the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, killing over 70,000 people. Three days later, a second bomb devastated Nagasaki, killing 50,000 more. Though a third bomb was planned for Tokyo, Truman halted further nuclear attacks, saying, "The thought of wiping out another 100,000 is too horrible. I don't like the idea of killing all those kids."
Dwight D. Eisenhower, despite being the most famous military man in the world, never participated in actual battle and detested bloody conflict. Just five months into his presidency, on July 26, 1953, he announced the signing of an armistice in Korea, ending the fighting between UN forces and Communist armies. America's economy boomed under Eisenhower, with gross national product growing from $200 billion post-WWII to $500 billion, fueled by government spending on highways, Social Security, and veterans' benefits.
John F. Kennedy's administration was dubbed "Camelot" by the media, portraying him as King Arthur surrounded by a gracious court, while ignoring his numerous female liaisons. Despite policy achievements, Kennedy's presidency ended tragically on November 22, 1963, when he was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas.
Lyndon B. Johnson's presidency achieved significant civil rights legislation despite his personal use of racial slurs, but ultimately collapsed under the weight of Vietnam War protests. After the 1968 Tet Offensive devastated public support, Johnson withdrew from the presidential race.
Richard Nixon's presidency was destroyed by the Watergate scandal. Despite Nixon's televised denial claiming "no whitewash at the White House," former counsel John Dean testified that Nixon had full knowledge of the operation. Facing certain impeachment, Nixon resigned on August 8, 1974.
Gerald Ford became America's fifth unelected president following Nixon's resignation. On September 8, 1974, Ford made the controversial decision to pardon Nixon for all offenses, causing his approval rating to plummet from 71 to 50 percent.
Jimmy Carter's presidency hit a new low when he had to announce the failed rescue mission of American hostages in Iran. With Americans suffering from tripled oil prices and declining earning power, Carter's approval rating dropped to 20 percent-lower than Nixon's worst during Watergate.
Ronald Reagan's second term began with a frigid inauguration on January 20, 1985, so cold the parade was canceled. At seventy-three, he was already the oldest chief executive in history, yet appeared fit as he took the oath with Nancy holding the family Bible. His 1987 "tear down this wall" speech in Berlin proved prophetic when the wall fell in 1989.
These Cold War presidents transformed America into a global superpower while navigating the challenges of nuclear brinkmanship, civil rights, and economic transformation.
