Were Americans behind Franklin D. Roosevelt or against him and how did the Republicans regard him?

Answer 1

FDR was one of the most popular presidents in US history. Unlike President Hoover before him, Roosevelt was not seen as a cold, wealthy Aristocrat who couldn't understand the plight of the average American. He was an activist President who promised the American people a "New Deal" that would change the system for decades. While it's arguable whether his social programs did anything to bring the U.S. out of the depression, they offered enough relief and comfort to the population to boost its overall morale and get him elected President 4 times. His compassion was most notable with his weekly radio "fireside chats", where his fatherly voice and comforting tone would assure the people with news of new work programs, health care benefits, social security and most of all... compassion. As for the war, America was torn over whether they wanted to follow the President's wish to join the British in their fight against Nazi Germany. Charles Lindberg, the aviation hero, briefly considered a run against the President in 1940 on a pro-German, anti-war, anti-British platform. But after making several anti-jewish speeches, the Republican party shunned Lindberg and nominated Wendell Willkie who lost against Roosevelt in the election. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, American's no longer questioned Roosevelt's push to join the war. The war had come to America.