John Stossel’s recent column claiming that New Deal reforms did not bring the United States out of the Depression appalled me.
The Great Depression caused worldwide economic, social and political havoc, helping consolidate the power of dictators such as Franco in Spain and Stalin in Russia. Hitler Nazified Germany, conquered Europe and killed millions.
By 1930 25 percent of the U.S. population was unemployed. Franklin Roosevelt stepped in to prevent an economic collapse.
Political agitators — and worse — flourished on both sides. The Black Legion, a Ku-Klux Klan off-shoot, demonstrated what could happen when extremists resort to terror. In 1936, 19 members were convicted of killing labor organizer Charles Poole. The group may have murdered 50 more. The United States was fortunate that no other hate groups staged a coup.
The New Deal gave the nation innovations such as the 40-hour work week and unemployment insurance. FDR had shortcomings, but he gave Americans hope.
