Richard Balmert

Lost Decade Richard Balmert

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, took office as President of the United States in March, 1932. Now with rapidly increasing unemployment, he generated a great passion that all would be rectified and happy days would be here again. In 1939, the unemployment rate stood at nearly nineteen percent. Nothing would deter his popularity as he continued to win elections including a fourth term as President. Germany invaded France late that year, and America began its Lend-Lease program for the European Allies and as the munitions factories and shipyards quickly accelerated and with the Army Draft, America's unemployment finally dropped.