More than five years after the Great Depression, an Indiana commentator reflected on his fellow citizens in a rather somber profile.
“Who is Muncie’s ‘Forgotten Man’?” the article inquired. “I know him as well as I know my own underwear… He’s the kind of guy who takes on odd jobs when the opportunity arises… and there are countless individuals like him in Muncie. These are the true embodiment of America.”
Much like we honor the Americans of the 1930s and 1940s as the “Greatest Generation,” many still hold onto that original spirit that defined America. They managed to maintain hope through a decade of hardship. Our great-grandparents lived so frugally they saved everything — tin cans, rubber bands, bits of string — hiding them under their mattresses. They didn’t have 401(k)s, yet during World War II, this same group stood resilient in defense of democracy.
Looking back, it’s crucial to grasp the extent of the depression in 1932. One out of every four citizens was out of work, and the stock market had plummeted to about one-tenth of its previous value. That year, Franklin Roosevelt, the then-New York Governor, stepped onto the political scene, remembered now as a notable military figure from his role as assistant secretary of the Navy during World War I.
Roosevelt embraced the “forgotten man” in his rhetoric, initiating a New Deal aimed at rejuvenating the stagnant economy. His message was clear: with proper action, jobs would return.
Americans, in desperate hope, rallied behind him. As humorist Will Rogers once remarked, “If he burned down the Capitol, we would cheer and say, ‘Well, at least we started the fire.'” Roosevelt indeed sparked numerous initiatives that seemed beneficial. Deposit insurance offered a safety net for savings, while Social Security introduced financial support for the elderly, an essential help for families facing their own struggles. Various government programs provided temporary employment to those without jobs.
However, some initiatives backfired, shifting focus away from manufacturing—an essential sector at the time—and imposing new bureaucratic oversight through the National Industrial Reconstruction Authority.
Cognizant of Roosevelt’s bold actions, Congress extended similar powers over agriculture. This shift meant that pricing and wages were now dictated from above. The president emphasized that financial management was critical, urging everyone to turn over their personal funds to the Treasury.
The reasoning behind this control was to decrease commodity supply, such as grain, thereby raising prices to spur recovery. This logic was, frankly, puzzling. The push for monetary control resembled outright expropriation, leading to prosecutions against dissenting companies and individuals — notably, former Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon became a target.
The outcome? Economic turmoil deepened. Companies, burdened by a mandated minimum wage they couldn’t meet, paid workers less and resisted hiring them back. In a particularly bewildering policy, farmers were told to destroy their crops. Visualize it: farmers desperate for trained mules to trample cotton rows as the usage of the animals proved troublesome.
Though the mules couldn’t voice their opinions, the people certainly could.
After millions of piglets were culled, a distressed housewife wrote to Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace, lamenting, “It’s truly disheartening to know the government killed millions of piglets.” This misstep drove prices up, leading to scarcity in pork. As the author noted, “We poor folks can’t even gaze at a piece of bacon.”
The Supreme Court intervened, dismantling both the NIRA and its agricultural counterpart, the Agricultural Adjustment Administration. In response, Roosevelt sought alternative routes, enacting the Wagner Act of 1935, which strengthened union representation. Still, struggling businesses faced higher pay levels than mandated by union regulations.
Market recovery stumbled forward amidst fears over currency and real estate. Some voters, as a Muncie journalist noted, began to wonder if they would forever remain “the forgotten people.”
Even as the 1936 election approached, the Republican Party did not present a strong alternative to Roosevelt. Alf Landon, the Republican candidate, suggested a milder New Deal. Panic had frozen voters, leading them to stick with the familiar, resulting in Roosevelt’s significant re-election despite unemployment hovering over 10%.
Roosevelt displayed remarkable resolve, vowing to assert his authority over corporations. Yet, as the Great Depression deepened in the late 1930s, it was often referred to as the “Depression of the Great Depression,” with unemployment rates soaring to 15%. Some of the growing disillusionment stemmed from his aggressive stance against utilities—one of the few sectors capable of aiding recovery.
Wendell Willkie, an executive from the utility industry, reminded the nation that the New Deal represented a false hope of government solutions—a “bedtime story.” His straightforward criticism gained traction; by the time he ran for president in 1940, many believed he could defeat Roosevelt. If World War II hadn’t interrupted events, he may well have succeeded.
Voters saw FDR, a former Navy officer, as a better fit for commander-in-chief than for carrying out domestic policies. He ultimately proved his points, redirecting his focus away from hostility toward businesses and launching successful military campaigns abroad. In 1944, after D-Day, the nation elected Roosevelt for a historic fourth term.
However, in the wake of his passing and wartime victories in 1945, Americans reflected on their experiences from 15 years of hardship. They recognized the importance of uniting under strong leadership in wartime but also acknowledged that personal resilience was key to economic recovery during peace.
This understanding surfaced as lawmakers eventually passed new regulations to erase the most harmful aspects of Roosevelt’s labor policies.
When Harry Truman, Roosevelt’s successor, attempted to seize control of the steel industry, the Supreme Court acted swiftly to halt him. States moved to limit a president’s terms to two — a response not just to Roosevelt’s extended tenure but to draw a line for future leaders.
In times of war, support the collective. In peacetime, honor the individuals — the “forgotten ones.” It’s an enduring lesson passed down through generations, a valuable piece of wisdom.
