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Trump: The Presidential Precedents

Trump: The Presidential Precedents: Episode 3: Warren Harding and Franklin Roosevelt

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Episode 3

Episode 3: Warren Harding and Franklin Roosevelt

Warren Harding and Franklin Roosevelt

BBC Radio 4 - Trump: The Presidential Precedents, Warren Harding and Franklin Roosevelt

In 1932, Franklin Roosevelt swept to power promising action amid crisis.

Adam Smith compares Trump's win to past presidents who divided America even as they promised radical change. In 1932, FDR swept to power promising action amid crisis.

Adam Smith compares Trump's win to the victories of past Presidents who divided America even as they promised radical change.

In 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt swept to power promising strong government action amid economic crisis.

He was born rich and grew up in the social elite. But FDR played on populist themes in his 1932 landslide win against incumbent Herbert Hoover at the height of the Great Depression. Roosevelt promised a "New Deal" but said little about what that would actually mean. He won because he tapped into a desire to get rid of the people who had been in power when the economy crashed. 

At times Roosevelt ran against Wall St and the special interests. He was painted as a dangerous demagogue, even a dictator. And he was shaky on the Constitution and civil liberties - he engaged in court packing, as well as massive expansion of executive authority. 

FDR offered action - ANY action - and hope. His new coalition of blue collar workers, African Americans (where they could vote) and urban intellectuals was an enduring one. The meaning of his revolution altered several times after 1932, eventually developing a Keynesian rationale which had not been present at the beginning - an approach Trump is now echoing. But the stock of images and the emotions he appealed to made him the most electorally successful president ever.

And Adam also explores the parallels between Trump and a President who was the political opposite of FDR - Warren G. Harding, whose 1920 promise totake the country back to 'normalcy' finds an echo in Trump's 'America First' approach.

Series features contributions from: HW Brands, Eric Foner, Eric Rauchway, Heather Richardson

Producer: Phil Tinline.

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Adam Smith on past presidents who divided America as they arrived promising radical change

Adam Smith compares Trump's win to past presidents who divided America even as they promised radical change.

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Episode 3: Warren Harding and Franklin Roosevelt

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