A Rhetorical Examination of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s First Inaugural Address
Journal: Scholarly Horizons University of Minnesota Morris Undergraduate Journal
Year: 2014

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) was the 32nd president of the United States of America. He served an unprecedented four terms in office and delivered four inaugural speeches. He set himself up for success in his first inaugural address, claiming, “there is nothing to fear but fear itself.” This famous passage, among others in FDR’s first inaugural address, worked as rhetorical maneuvers meant to both introduce FDR to the presidency as well as leave a lasting impression on the citizens of the Uni