Interesting that none of them picked the sitting president. Not sure if that was due to their dislike of the New Deal, or if that’s a reflection of a pre-WWII American view that their leaders play second fiddle to Europe.

[–] DragonBallZinn@hexbear.net 40 points 1 month ago (7 children)

As much as I believe universities are great and important things, pretty much before the 1950s the majority of colleges were just for lack of better term, “practice country clubs” that doubled as training for the idle rich to learn to be porks.

So FDR, who still had problems, was utterly profane to porky and the piglets in university at the time. I wouldn’t be surprised if Adolf Hitler was the most beloved person among (white) Amerikkkans until the US entered WW2.

[–] MeowZedong@lemmygrad.ml 9 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I'm pretty sure that much of the most progressive stuff in The New Deal were concessions made to labor unions. FDR didn't do it from the kindness of his heart.

[–] cricbuzz@hexbear.net 7 points 1 month ago

You're exactly right. This is outlined in "The S Word" by John Nichols. He was pressured by ardent socialists/communists and actually LISTENED to that pressure. Leading to setting up some of the most important safety nets in US history.

Imagine if socialists/communists ACTUALLY had a chance to take the reins and go further

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