Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) holds the record for the most Executive Orders (EOs) signed by any U.S. president—3,721 during his four terms (1933–1945). Given the sheer number, many had major historical impacts, especially during the Great Depression and World War II. Here are some of the most significant ones:
💸 New Deal Era (Great Depression Response)
- EO 6102 (1933) – Gold Confiscation Order
- Made it illegal for individuals to hoard gold coins, bullion, and certificates, forcing citizens to sell their gold to the Federal Reserve. This was a major move to fight the banking crisis and stabilize the economy.
- EO 7034 (1935) – Creation of the Works Progress Administration (WPA)
- Part of FDR’s New Deal, the WPA provided jobs for millions of unemployed Americans through public works projects like building roads, schools, and public buildings.
- EO 6763 (1934) – National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
- Strengthened workers' rights to unionize and collectively bargain, which was a cornerstone for modern labor rights in the U.S.
🪖 World War II Era
- EO 9066 (1942) – Japanese-American Internment
- Authorized the forced relocation and internment of over 120,000 Japanese-Americans during WWII. It’s now recognized as a severe violation of civil liberties.
- EO 8802 (1941) – Fair Employment in Defense Industries
- Banned discriminatory practices in the defense industry and federal government, laying groundwork for later civil rights legislation.
- EO 9279 (1942) – Selective Service Expansion
- Expanded conscription and the draft during WWII, increasing manpower for the U.S. military.
🏛️ Financial & Political Infrastructure
- EO 7037 (1935) – Establishing the Rural Electrification Administration (REA)
- Brought electricity to rural areas, massively modernizing agricultural America.
- EO 9385 (1943) – Establishing the Office of Economic Stabilization
- Controlled wages and prices to prevent wartime inflation.
🌟 Legacy & Impact
FDR used executive orders as tools of aggressive governance during crises—sometimes seen as necessary, other times criticized for overreach. EO 9066 remains a blemish on his legacy, while others like EO 8802 were early victories for civil rights.
FDR was able to serve four terms as president because, at the time, there was no constitutional limit on how many terms a president could serve. The two-term tradition was more of an unwritten rule, started by George Washington, who stepped down after two terms in 1797, setting a precedent that most presidents voluntarily followed.
However, it wasn’t legally binding—until after FDR.
🏛️ Why FDR Broke the Tradition:
- Great Depression (1930s): FDR was first elected in 1932 during the worst economic crisis in U.S. history. His New Deal policies made him wildly popular among many Americans who saw him as a stabilizing force.
- World War II (1939–1945): As WWII escalated, voters saw continuity in leadership as crucial. In 1940, FDR ran for a third term, arguing that the global crisis required experienced leadership. He won easily.
- Fourth Term (1944): With WWII still raging, FDR was re-elected again in 1944, though his health was failing. He died in office in April 1945, just months into his fourth term.
🛡️ The Aftermath – 22nd Amendment:
FDR's unprecedented four terms freaked out both parties. Critics saw it as a potential risk for authoritarianism, so in 1951, the 22nd Amendment was ratified, officially limiting presidents to two terms (or a maximum of 10 years if they take over mid-term).
TL;DR:
FDR could do it because no one had legally said you can’t—until he did it, and then they made sure no one could again.
Bretton Woods System
FDR played a pivotal role in laying the groundwork for the Bretton Woods system, though he didn’t live to see its full implementation. The system, established in 1944 during WWII, aimed to create a stable global economic framework for the post-war world. Here's how FDR set things in motion:
💰 1. Ending the Gold Standard (Domestically)
- In 1933, through Executive Order 6102, FDR banned private gold ownership and forced citizens to sell their gold to the Federal Reserve.
- In 1934, with the Gold Reserve Act, he devalued the U.S. dollar by raising the price of gold from $20.67 to $35 an ounce.
- This effectively removed the U.S. from the classical gold standard, giving the government more flexibility to fight the Great Depression through monetary policy.
Why it matters for Bretton Woods:
By altering the U.S. relationship with gold, FDR set the stage for a more controlled and flexible international monetary system—one where the U.S. dollar could take center stage.
🌍 2. Promoting International Economic Cooperation
- FDR understood that economic chaos after WWI (think: hyperinflation in Germany, the Great Depression) had contributed to the rise of fascism and WWII.
- He pushed for post-war planning that emphasized global economic stability to prevent future conflicts.
🏦 3. Setting the Bretton Woods Conference in Motion (1944)
- FDR’s administration (especially Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau Jr. and economist Harry Dexter White) organized the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference—aka the Bretton Woods Conference—in New Hampshire.
- Delegates from 44 Allied nations attended, crafting a new financial world order even before WWII officially ended.
📊 The Bretton Woods System in a Nutshell:
- The U.S. dollar became the world’s reserve currency, pegged to gold at $35 an ounce.
- Other currencies were pegged to the dollar, creating fixed exchange rates but with some flexibility.
- Institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank were created to stabilize global markets and fund reconstruction.
🧠 FDR’s Strategic Play:
FDR’s policies essentially made the U.S. dollar the anchor of the new global system. By the end of WWII, the U.S. controlled most of the world’s gold reserves and had the largest industrial base, giving it massive leverage.
Irony? Though FDR set it up, he died in April 1945, before seeing the system fully roll out.
TL;DR:
FDR ditched the rigid gold standard, championed international cooperation, and positioned the U.S. as the economic superpower, leading to the birth of the Bretton Woods system.
