The “Forgotten Man”: from the New Deal to No Deal

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In 1932, during the depths of the Great Depression, Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered his famous "Forgotten Man" speech, laying the foundation for a New Deal that would redefine American government. He championed the working and middle-class citizens—farmers, laborers, and struggling entrepreneurs—who had been left behind by an economy that disproportionately favored the wealthy. Roosevelt’s vision was built on fairness, economic security, and a strong, responsive government that actively worked to protect the average citizen. His policies led to tangible improvements, such as reducing unemployment through public works programs, stabilizing the financial sector with banking reforms, and lifting millions of elderly Americans out of poverty through Social Security. In stark contrast, the policies of Donald Trump, from his tax cuts for the wealthy to his dismantling of key governmental institutions, embody a rejection of Roosevelt’s principles that made America great.

Roosevelt’s “Forgotten Man” and His Vision for America

FDR’s speech spoke to those who had suffered in silence while economic policies favored the elite. He rejected the idea that government should serve only the interests of business magnates and argued that it should intervene to protect ordinary Americans. Roosevelt’s New Deal was the practical realization of this philosophy, encompassing:

1. Economic Relief – Programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) provided jobs to millions of unemployed Americans, ensuring that work, not mere handouts, restored dignity.

2. Regulation of Big Business – Roosevelt’s administration imposed regulations on banks and corporations to prevent the reckless financial speculation that had led to the Great Depression, including the Glass-Steagall Act to separate commercial and investment banking.

3. Social Security and Labor Protections – The Social Security Act of 1935 created a safety net for the elderly and unemployed, and laws like the National Labor Relations Act protected workers' rights to unionize and bargain collectively.

4. Infrastructure and Public Services – Roosevelt championed large-scale infrastructure projects, bringing electricity to rural areas through the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and constructing roads, bridges, and schools that benefited all Americans.

Trump’s Escalation of His Rejection of FDR’s Legacy

In contrast to Roosevelt’s commitment to uplifting the working class, Donald Trump has ramped up his rejection of FDR’s principles in the last several weeks, doubling down on policies that favor the wealthy, weaken labor protections, and erode social programs. Several of his recent actions stand in stark opposition to Roosevelt’s vision. Here are a few:

1. Expanding Tax Breaks for the Wealthy

Trump has been aggressively pushing for additional tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest Americans, including proposals to extend and expand the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which reduced corporate tax rates and lowered income taxes primarily for high earners. reinforcing the pattern established by his 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. While Roosevelt championed a fair tax system to fund essential public programs, Trump’s tax policies are exacerbating income inequality and increasing the national debt without benefiting middle-class and low-income citizens.

2. Attacks on Civil Servants and Government Institutions Intensify

Trump has ramped up his campaign against career civil servants, recently firing or pushing out inspectors general who oversee government accountability, including Michael Atkinson, the intelligence community inspector general who alerted Congress to the Ukraine whistleblower complaint, and Steve Linick, the State Department inspector general who was investigating Secretary Mike Pompeo. He has also sought to replace nonpartisan officials with loyalists, further eroding the independence and efficacy of key institutions. Agencies tasked with regulating corporate misconduct and protecting public health continue to be hollowed out, leaving ordinary Americans vulnerable.

3. Further Dismantling of Social and Environmental Protections

Trump has recently accelerated the repeal of environmental protections by approving new drilling projects in national parks and cutting funding for climate research. Roosevelt’s New Deal prioritized conservation and public land stewardship, while Trump’s actions prioritize corporate profits at the expense of the environment and public health.

4. Renewed Efforts to Weaken Worker Rights

Trump has intensified efforts to undermine labor protections by advocating for the elimination of worker safety regulations and rolling back wage protections. FDR fought to strengthen unions and labor protections, but Trump’s policies actively suppress worker organizing and empower corporate interests.

5. Increased Marginalization of Vulnerable Communities

Trump has continued policies that target marginalized communities, particularly transgender individuals and immigrants. Recently, he has moved to strip federal protections for LGBTQ+ workers and advance policies that restrict rights for transgender individuals in healthcare and education. His divisive rhetoric and policies stand in direct contrast to Roosevelt’s vision of inclusivity and economic justice.

6. Further Privatization and Defunding of Public Services

Trump has increased efforts to cut funding for Medicare, Social Security, and other public assistance programs under the guise of reducing government spending. Despite promising to protect these essential services, his administration is pushing for changes that would weaken them, disproportionately harming the elderly and working-class Americans whom Roosevelt sought to protect.

The Escalating Betrayal of Roosevelt’s Forgotten Man

Roosevelt’s Forgotten Man was the struggling worker, the farmer, the unemployed, and the elderly—people whom he sought to uplift through government action. Trump, however, has continued and intensified policies that cater to the wealthiest Americans, corporate interests, and political allies while undermining economic security for ordinary citizens. Instead of strengthening institutions that ensure prosperity for all, he is eroding them further.

FDR once said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” His leadership during times of crisis was marked by a sense of optimism, responsibility, and compassion. In contrast, Trump’s ongoing rejection of Roosevelt’s ideals fosters division, fear, and economic disparity. Roosevelt’s vision made America truly great by ensuring economic justice and collective progress, while Trump’s recent actions demonstrate an even deeper betrayal of those ideals. To honor Roosevelt’s legacy, policymakers and citizens must advocate for fair taxation, strengthen labor protections, and support public infrastructure and social welfare programs that benefit all Americans.

The lesson of the Forgotten Man speech is clear: America prospers when government acts as a force for good, protecting and uplifting its citizens. Trump’s continued dismantling of FDR’s legacy serves as a stark reminder of what is at stake, and history will judge whether America continues to follow Roosevelt’s path of economic security and inclusivity or accelerates down Trump’s road of exclusion and inequality.