Fdr Political Skills

The political skills of FDR are apparent in the actions of the 73rd Congress in its first session. In the first two days the Congress passed the Emergency Banking Act and the Economy Act of 1993 which are two key parts of FDR’s New Deal program. In his first hundred days, FDR passed a total of 15 major bills through Congress. FDR realized that he needed to work with Congress to get the New Deal passed. Roosevelt told Congress exactly what he wanted when he brought them to a special session after being inaugurated. FDR “asked for immediate ratification of his actions and for new powers to control banks, expand the currency, and reopen sound banks at the discretion of the executive branch” stating these actions would prevent an event like the
Great Depression again (Daniels 134). Franklin Roosevelt did not about implementing his policy in any unique way. He did sign some executive orders, but also simply asked Congress to implement his policies. It is important to note that there was a Democratic majority in both the House and Senate; however, FDR did face congressional resistance to his policies.
Congress focused this resistance on veteran’s benefits, but the tactics of congressional leadership stifled it (Daniels 135). Resistance in the Senate lasted four days in the Senate while the Speaker of the House placed a limit of two hours on debate. To achieve what he wanted, FDR used the tools available to him like threatening vetoes in the Senate (Daniels 157). The skills FDR presented were not at all revolutionary. Roosevelt simply realized he needed to work with Congress and recognized that implementing policy was “all about give and take despite the appearance of Roosevelt getting everything he wanted”( Daniels 137). Political scientists define this as the broker state where members bargain to get what they desire. It is not party rule or the president ability to get his own party’s support but it was Roosevelt’s ability in work with members of both parties (Snowiss 60). Roosevelt did not let partisanship to get in his way and realized to get anything done he needed to work with Democrats and Republicans. Teamwork is what Roosevelt utilized in getting his agenda through in the first 100 days. FDR thanked Congress in a letter to the Speaker of the House at the conclusion at the first special session thanking them for their cooperation in which the “spirit of teamwork has in most cases transcend party lines” (Roosevelt, Letter of Appreciation). Teamwork is an underestimated political skills, especially across party lines. However, Roosevelt recognized how politics worked and realized he needed Congress. This understanding of working together with all Congress members allowed FDR’s first hundred days to be
successful.