We are a far cry from the progressive climate when FDR worked his New Deal (adding things we take for granted such as Social Security and the FDIC to insure our bank accounts). The US had powerful labor unions as well as active communist and socialist parties. Bush and Trump ended their terms with the US economy in volatile, smoldering ruins. That suits the super wealthy 'investor class' who only need volatility. They have the capital to make money if valuations and interest rates go up -or- down. They don't want social stability.
Maybe Sleepy Joe will surprise us with some progressiveness. I have a silly gut feeling he may give it a go. Surprise us Joe !!!
FDR had to work tooth and nail to get anywhere (bad domestic economy, bad world economy, resisting SCOTUS, attempted coup, attempted assassination). The country was unified by WW II, after Japan attacked us. Up until then public opinion could tolerate Japan (in China) and Italy (in Africa), and supported Germany (against communism). But Hitler's treaty with Stalin, and shifting alliance from KMT to Japan in China, totally blew that narrative. Hitler didn't have to declare war on the US. The Soviet Union, after being invaded by Germany, didn't declare war on Japan until the end of 1945. Hitler was a very stable genius ;-)
A great many of Americans hated FDR, for being rich, for being East Coast, for being Democrat (pro-South), for devaluing the dollar, for seizing the gold, for giving a nod and wink to the British Empire and to the Soviet Union. The majority of Americans still hated the British Empire even after WW I and they certainly hated the Soviet Union (except among American intelligencia who fought against Franco in Spain). His socialist attempts to stimulate the economy failed by 1937. Lend-lease in 1940 saved him. My father's father (anti-communist anarcho-capitalist) hated FDR and he wasn't alone. Multiple people in DC knew the Japanese were going to attack shortly before it happened, and wanted it to happen. WW II, and FDR dying on schedule (for Truman to step in after VP Wallace was dumped for being too friendly to the Soviet Union) made him a saint (same as Lincoln was hated in life but martyred into sainthood). Republicans hate FDR on the dime, as they do Kennedy on the half. This is why it took decades to build any monument to FDR in Washington DC.
I like FDR and Eleanor, after the fact, he had a hard job and did the best he could under the circumstances. Same reason why I admire or feel sorry for Lincoln and Mary Todd. The idea that Americans even know who FDR is, is laughable. And the portrait of Lincoln (even recently) is hagiography. As persons I like Truman and Eisenhower better than FDR. FDR was slick even around his intimates.
