American people Quote by Lawrence W. Reed
““In surveys, a majority consistently rank FDR near the top of the list for presidential greatness, so it is likely they would reject the notion that the New Deal was responsible for prolonging the Great Depression. But when a nationally representative poll by the American Institute of Public Opinion in the spring of 1939 asked, “Do you think the attitude of the Roosevelt administration toward business is delaying business recovery?” the American people responded “yes” by a margin of more than 2-to-1. The business community felt even more strongly so.””
About This Quote
Public opinion praised FDR’s greatness yet blamed his policies for slowing business recovery, showing a split between personal admiration and policy criticism.
In simple terms: People can admire a leader while disapproving of specific actions.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that praise and criticism can coexist.
Themes
politics
public opinion
leadership
Mood
conflicted
reflective
Type
historical
analytical
When to use this quote
- election campaigns
- policy debates
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
greatness perception
policy impact
economic recovery
Questions to Reflect On
- How do personal feelings about a leader affect views on their policies?
- Can admiration coexist with policy disagreement?
A Different Perspective
Public sentiment may shift over time, complicating simple judgments.
![“The crisis [the Great Depression] discovered a great man in Franklin Roosevelt...None too soon he has carried America forward to the second stage of democratic realization. His New Deal involves such collective controls of the national business that it would be absurd to call it anything but…” quote by H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/772/h-g-wells-1122_absurd_the-crisis-the-great-depression-discover_120950.jpg)
