Democrats Promised "Immediate and Drastic Reduction of Government Expenditures"

In 1932, while the Great Depression was raging across the globe, Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Democratic Party called for a number of changes, including a 25% reduction in federal government costs.

The deficits under President Hoover were out of control, the Democrats said, and an "immediate and drastic reduction of government expenditures" was needed to balance the budget.

Fiscal restraint was called for, the Democrats said. The party proposed a 25% reduction in the costs of running the federal government, and they also called on states to "make a zealous effort" to achieve a "proportionate result".

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How did Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Democratic nominee for President, and the Democrats hope to accomplish this?

Well, let's look at their own words from 1932:

"We advocate an immediate and drastic reduction of governmental expenditures by abolishing useless commissions and offices, consolidating departments and bureaus, and eliminating extravagance, to accomplish a saving of not less than twenty-five per cent in the cost of the Federal Government."

The Democrats also said that the government should be removed "from all fields of private enterprise except where necessary to develop public works and natural resources in the common interest."

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The country liked what they heard from FDR and the Democrats, as Roosevelt cruised to an easy victory, picking up 472 electoral votes and 57.4% of the popular vote.

Government spending would skyrocket during President Roosevelt's time in the White House, as his "New Deal" programs would result in a sharp uptick in government spending.

In 1937 and 1938, President Roosevelt's government would attempt to balance the budget, but this would end up throwing the country into a recession, so this short-lived austerity was quickly reversed.

In the years following, the country would be plunged into war, and federal spending would spike again due to war-time needs.

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It's interesting to note that at the heights of the Great Depression, the Democrat party in 1932 was advocating for a greatly reduced federal government.

Filed under: General Knowledge