Changing Things

By Calvin K. Sunderland,

edited by Michael K. Sunderland

When Roosevelt came in, things worsened quickly for the Sunderlands. FDR’s first act in office was to close every bank in the nation for the historic bank holiday. There was panic in some quarters and banks went under to the dismay of their depositors.

A flood of emergency measures came from the White House quickly rubber-stamped by a thoroughly cowed Congress. Whatever Roosevelt wanted, he got with hardly a murmur of dissent. The radical legislation came so fast and frenzied the people had no chance to ponder the effects and conse...