March 12, 1933. It was a time when many Americans needed hope and support. Franklin Roosevelt, then president, had to choose his words carefully. He didn't want to be too formal, people would see him as nothing more than a politician. Instead he was friendly, informal, and spoke with a simplicity that brought him down to the level of the average American. This informality and friendliness were immediately evident in the memorable words: “My friends”. These powerful words imply many things. For example, a twenty-nine-year-old woman who has no job, whose financial situation is less than desirable, and whose life appears to be nothing more than survival, would feel some comfort in knowing that her country's leader considers himself a comrade, a friend and a fellow American; not a ruler. This portrayal of a down-to-earth man was also evident in the first paragraph. Roosevelt's words: "I want to speak for a few minutes with the people of the United States about banking... more particularly with the vast majority of you who use the banks to make deposits and write checks." Once again, Roosevelt nails the “common” character I believe he wants to portray. Here he laid the foundations of his entire speech. Average listeners now knew they wouldn't be bombarded with confusing jargon and terminology. They increasingly began to feel that Roosevelt was not addressing an entire nation, but them specifically. The next paragraph appears to be aimed at dispelling any doubt that Roosevelt's words are sincere, honest, and not a political ploy. Roosevelt made all this clear with the words: “I want to tell you what was done… and why it was done,” and: “I recognize that many proclaim… in the middle of the paper… thanks by limiting the blame to a small number of specific banks that do not they are banks of any specific listener. Roosevelt also struck at honesty and common sense by saying, "I won't promise you that every bank will reopen..." This revealed to a listener that Roosevelt wasn't perfect but he was honest. An attentive listener, however, would have realized that what Roosevelt said was rhetorical and almost a clever thing to say while saying nothing. This, I believe, was perhaps the only time that Roosevelt spoke in a way that seemed like a political ploy. The last sentence of the speech shines with eloquence. Roosevelt emphasized his “everyman” persona with the infallible words, “Together we cannot fail.” His last sentence is as powerful as the first, and together they sum up Roosevelt's goal with fireside chats: to be one of the people.