Fireside Chats with FDR

Fireside Chats

• What was a fireside chat?– On thirty-one occasions during his presidency,

Franklin Delano Roosevelt went on the radio to talk things over with the people of the United States.

– Families would gather around their fireplace and radio to hear the president address the nation on key topics such as the war, the depression, and other key policies.

• http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/medialist.php?presid=32

Your mission…

• Get into a group of 2 or 3

• Pretend you are FDR and must address the American public on one of the following:– Announcement of a new New Deal Program– Address of the nations current economic

status– A letter introducing yourself, FDR, as the new

president of the United States

Next…

• Research your topic and identify your key talking points

• Get your assigned laptop computer from the cart

• Create a written narrative or notes• Open up the program “Garage Band”• Record a 1-2 minute fireside chat on your

selected topic• Save via flashdrive and give to me!