Discussion Points "Brother's Keeper" Speech

Franklin Delano Roosevelt's "Brother's Keeper" speech is probably the most famous speech he delivered in the State of Georgia. His partisan attacks on Republicans drew negative criticism from that party, the press, and even some Democrats.

The President made a number of interesting remarks in the speech. The remarks used here are hilighted in the text of the speech.

"...I can come closer than any President since Wilson to saying, My Fellow Georgians."

Question 1:Why could President Wilson say "My Fellow Georgians?"

"...the blood of North Georgia runs in the veins of my children."

Question 2:Why could President Roosevelt say this?

"...Washington aided in projects for schools, for an almshouse"

Question 3:What is an almshouse?

"I wish all who hear my voice could see this great Civic Center, with its beautiful courthouse that faces me as I speak.

Question 4:What recent technological breakthrough causes the President to make this comment?

"...those people who owned -- I say "owned" -- the Government of the United States from 1921 to 1933.

Question 5:Who "owned" the Government from 1921 until 1933?

"...there is little difference between the feudal system and the Fascist system."

Question 6:What is the difference between a feudal system and a Fascist system?

"...I am opposed to Fascism as I am opposed to Communism."

Question 7:What was going on in the county that made it important for the President to state that he was against Communism?

"...abuses of the past which have been successfully eradicated..."

Question 8:What abuses is FDR talking about? Give at least one example of how they were "successfully eradicated."

Additional topics for discussion:

Now take a minute to read FDR's request for a declaration of war against Japan. Can you tell the difference between that speech and this one? Note things like sentence structure and length. The Pearl Harbor speech was given word for word from the prepared text while his "Brother's Keeper" speech had numerous improvisations, including the entire part about the two Mormons in Macon, Georgia.

Today presidents use a device called a teleprompter and almost never stray from prepared text. What affect do you think this device might have on FDR's "Brother's Keeper" speech?

FDR "Voices":
"Brothers Keeper" speech, Gainesville, Georgia, March 23, 1938
Improptu remarks from train, Gainesville, Georgia, April 9, 1936
Improptu remarks from train, Toccoa, Georgia, March 23, 1938, a few hours before this address.
To the Congress of the United States, and the Nation, December 8, 1941 -- formal request for declaration of war

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