Original Draft – FDR Fundraiser Dinner
Two local Minnesota DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) units put on an annual fundraiser in the namesake of FDR. Originally, the speech time was set to 4 minutes. It later got cut to 2 minutes, so the speech got cut quite a bit as well. Following is the original speech, including the first part, reciting FDR himself, in his 1944 State of the Union Address:
“This Republic had its beginning, and grew to its present strength, under the protection of certain inalienable political rights — among them the right of free speech, free press, free worship, trial by jury, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. They were our rights to life and liberty.
“We have come to a clear realization of the fact, however, that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. “Necessitous men are not free men.” People who are hungry, people who are out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.
“In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all — regardless of station, or race or creed.
“Among these are:
- The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries, or shops or farms or mines of the nation;
- The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
- The right of farmers to raise and sell their products at a return which will give them and their families a decent living;
- The right of every business man, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;
- The right of every family to a decent home;
- The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
- The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, and sickness, and accident and unemployment;
- And finally, the right to a good education.
“All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.
“America’s own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for all our citizens. For unless there is security here at home there cannot be lasting peace in the world.
“One of the great American industrialists of our day…recently emphasized the grave dangers of “rightist reaction” in this Nation… Indeed, if such reaction should develop…then it is certain that even though we shall have conquered our enemies on the battlefields abroad, we shall have yielded to the spirit of fascism here at home.”
You may recognize that as part of FDR’s 1944 State of the Union address, yet…
Never have such prophetic words been spoken to warn us of the very times we live in today.
This address carries with it the wisdom and social conscience that only “The World’s First Lady” could bring to the Roosevelt Administration. Eleanor Roosevelt’s leadership, on civil rights and social justice, was well ahead of the mainstream and highlights how simply living your life with integrity and respect for all humans can influence those that know you, at least, and the world at most.
We know those words from FDR were spoken with the heart of conviction toward humanity that came from Eleanor. She helped shape the New Deal.
We must heed the Roosevelt’s words once again, and as a Party, follow through with the implementation of The Second Bill of Rights.
This is what the People want.
This is what the People need.
It’s time the Democratic Party delivered on the Roosevelt’s visions of Social Justice and Economic Security.
No more excuses. We hold the future in our own hands.
If we stand up together for these rights, to secure the lives of every man, woman and child in America, we will win in 2018!
We will win in 2020!
But more importantly, we will have won the trust of the People once again.