The First Hundred Days

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Setting priorities for his first term in 1933 was easy for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He had to save America from economic ruin. He had to at least begin to pull us out of our Great Depression. He did, and he did it during his "first hundred days."

On his first day in office, March 4, 1933, FDR called Congress into a special session. He then proceeded to drive a series of bills through Congress that reformed the U.S. banking industry, saved American agriculture and allowed for industrial recovery.

At the same time, FDR wielded the executive order in creating the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Public Works Administration, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. These projects put tens of thousands of Americans back to work building dams, bridges, highways and much needed public utility systems. 

By the time Congress adjourned the special session on June 16, 1933, Roosevelt's agenda, the "New Deal," was in place. America, though still staggering, was off the mat and back in the fight.

Not all of the New Deal worked and it took World War II to finally solidify the nation's economy. Yet, to this day, Americans still grade the initial performance of all new presidents against Franklin D. Roosevelt's "First Hundred Days."

During their first hundred days, all new presidents try to harness the carryover energy of a successful campaign by at least starting to implement the main programs and promises coming from the primaries and debates. 

During some part of their first hundred days, Congress and the press generally allow new presidents a "honeymoon period," during which public criticism is held to a minimum. It is during this totally unofficial and typically fleeting grace period that new presidents often try to get bills through Congress that might face more opposition later in the term.

The First Thirty-or-so of the 
First Hundred Days of George W. Bush
Just about one-third of the way through his first hundred days, President George W. Bush has:

• Gotten a raise -- to $390,000 a year -- as approved by Congress in the closing days of the last session.
• Reinstated the Mexico City policy denying US aid to countries that advocate abortion as a method of family planning
• Introduced his $1.6 trillion tax cutting program to Congress
• Launched a "Faith-Based" Initiative to help local charitable groups
• Launched a "New Freedom" Initiative to help disabled Americans
• Filled his Cabinet including the controversial appointment of John Ashcroft as Attorney General
• Already had a visitor to the White House -- firing a pistol
• Launched renewed air strikes against expanding Iraqi air defense systems
• Taken on big labor unions in government contracting
• Found out that an FBI agent may have spent years spying for Russia

You can keep up with the latest news and commentary about the Bush Administration launch here and on the About First Hundred Days Special.