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Primary sourceSpeech1933-1944

The Fireside Chats of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1933-1944

Franklin Delano Roosevelt · 1933-1944

A collection of radio addresses Roosevelt gave to the American people between 1933 and 1944, covering banking, the Depression, and the war.

These are Roosevelt's own radio speeches, central primary evidence of how he communicated with the nation.

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About this source

What it is

This is a published collection of radio speeches, known as "fireside chats," delivered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the American public between 1933 and 1944. The first chat, given on March 12, 1933, explained the banking crisis and the government's response to it in plain language.

Why it matters

These speeches show how Roosevelt used the relatively new medium of radio to speak directly to ordinary citizens during the Great Depression and the Second World War. They reveal his effort to build public trust and explain complicated government actions, such as banking reform and the New Deal, in simple terms.

Look closer

  • Why might Roosevelt choose simple, conversational language instead of formal political speech?
  • What does addressing citizens directly by radio tell you about his leadership style?
  • What problems or policies does he explain, and what might he be leaving out?

This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Franklin D. Roosevelt on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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