Franklin Delano Roosevelt utilized the radio to help lead America through the most difficult period in United States history. He reminded the country of our hopes and values and the promise in democracy. The President greeted Americans via radio as both friend and leader with sincerity, dignity, and at times a dose of humor. One of the greatest uses of mass media in history, the FDR Fireside mobilized the home front from the Great Depression through World War II.

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To reach the greatest amount of people, the Fireside Chats were broadcast on all national networks around 10:00 p.m. Eastern time. And people listened in mass. He asked that people from all walks of life write to him directly and tell him their troubles and millions of letters flooded the White House. The chats thus took the format of a conversation between a people and their president in the midst of a crossroads in the history of the United States.

(Please note that many of the rare recordings in this collection may be of inferior sound quality.)