g their respective terms. Harry Truman was the harbinger of change. He almost lost his bid for re-election when some of the countries most respected newspapers printed allegations, based mostly on rumor, that he was involved in the corrupt politics of Thomas Pendergast. This was a departure from the term of James Garfield in 1881. Accusations about his possible involvement in a payoff scam for a paving contract were openly discussed among members of congress. Nothing was ever printed about these allegations even though there was some circumstantial proof of their validity. What happened between Presidents Garfield and Truman to make the difference? Franklin D Roosevelt became our 32nd president. In 1933 he came into office with the country in crisis. The average American was frightened. The depression had left many families homeless. With a weakened economy the threat of Communism seemed more ominous. Roosevelt wrote a series of addresses to be read over the radio. He called these fireside chats. The term was meant to be reminiscent of a relaxing evening spent with family around a fire. Their main purpose was to calm the populace and lift national spirit. He alsohoped to associate the office of president more closely with the common man and present himself as a fatherly protector. Not only did he accomplish these goals; he simultaneously lowered the status of the office from its formerly untouchable posture to one of unlimited accessibility. This new and unconventional familiarity allowed people to feel more comfortable asking questions of a personal nature about their president. There are many comparisons that can be made between the presidents before Roosevelts day and those who came after. Roosevelt himself we now know suffered from severe paralysis brought on by polio. The news media was well aware of this at the time but no one dared to print it. Partially so as not to frighten the public but mostly out of respec...
