It was March 4, 1933, and Franklin D. Roosevelt was being sworn in as president after his Democratic Party assumed control of the levers of power in a country deeply troubled by a historic economic collapse. Over the next 3 1/2 months, he would amass a slew of legislative victories, help set in motion the recovery from the Great Depression and establish a new yardstick for chief executives.
Roosevelt accomplished so much during his first 100 days in office, presidential historians have said, that the period soon became the common barometer by which future presidents -- including Barack Obama -- would be measured.
"After the first 100 days of FDR, because so much happened, not only the laws he got passed, but he had changed the mood of the country so they felt more positive and he set the tone for what would become the administration . . . it's part of our culture to be measuring this," said historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. "It's the first measuring mark."
But as critics view President Obama's record through the 100-day prism, some historians are questioning whether the measuring point has any value. Part and parcel because simply, times and conditions in the nation have changed so much that it leaves those same critics analyzing with metrics that no longer exist.
If we were around during the time of FDR, the White House Prayer Team would have been praying for that president and every other president from then until now, however, although many things stay the same, our prayers would have undoubtedly changed throughout the course and spanse of bigger government.
Everything is bigger, including the electorate which just grew even more with the last election cycle. "When FDR became president, the economic situation was so dire that there was a quasi-revolutionary atmosphere in the country," Ron Chernow, a presidential historian said. "So I think that that becomes an unfair yardstick by which to judge Obama. In 1933, what was ideologically possible was much greater than today simply because the degree of despair was much greater. People really don't know how far they want to push reform or how deep-seated the problems are in the country."
The Prayer Team agrees with Princeton historian Sean Wilentz: "Historically, it's just kind of crazy. I think it's completely artificial and of very little use in thinking about any presidency. By the same token, you can talk about what a president has been doing and how a president's early days have gone, and that to me is perfectly all right. But these benchmarks are silly."
Whether its 100 days or 1,000 days as John F. Kennedy attempted to craft without success, Democrat or Republican, we are here to stand behind the office holder and occupant of the White House; to pray for their success over their complete term and petition God for their wisdom, protection and guidance.
*Special Note: Would like to invite you to several forums provided by the White House Prayer Team each day.
-FaceBook - see the link to the right of this site and join in with others who follow our dialog and social network.
-myBarackObama.com/White House Prayer Team Enjoy our daily blog there!
We look forward to you joining our network of believers!
In His Service - WHPT
Roosevelt accomplished so much during his first 100 days in office, presidential historians have said, that the period soon became the common barometer by which future presidents -- including Barack Obama -- would be measured.
"After the first 100 days of FDR, because so much happened, not only the laws he got passed, but he had changed the mood of the country so they felt more positive and he set the tone for what would become the administration . . . it's part of our culture to be measuring this," said historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. "It's the first measuring mark."
But as critics view President Obama's record through the 100-day prism, some historians are questioning whether the measuring point has any value. Part and parcel because simply, times and conditions in the nation have changed so much that it leaves those same critics analyzing with metrics that no longer exist.
If we were around during the time of FDR, the White House Prayer Team would have been praying for that president and every other president from then until now, however, although many things stay the same, our prayers would have undoubtedly changed throughout the course and spanse of bigger government.
Everything is bigger, including the electorate which just grew even more with the last election cycle. "When FDR became president, the economic situation was so dire that there was a quasi-revolutionary atmosphere in the country," Ron Chernow, a presidential historian said. "So I think that that becomes an unfair yardstick by which to judge Obama. In 1933, what was ideologically possible was much greater than today simply because the degree of despair was much greater. People really don't know how far they want to push reform or how deep-seated the problems are in the country."
The Prayer Team agrees with Princeton historian Sean Wilentz: "Historically, it's just kind of crazy. I think it's completely artificial and of very little use in thinking about any presidency. By the same token, you can talk about what a president has been doing and how a president's early days have gone, and that to me is perfectly all right. But these benchmarks are silly."
Whether its 100 days or 1,000 days as John F. Kennedy attempted to craft without success, Democrat or Republican, we are here to stand behind the office holder and occupant of the White House; to pray for their success over their complete term and petition God for their wisdom, protection and guidance.
*Special Note: Would like to invite you to several forums provided by the White House Prayer Team each day.
-FaceBook - see the link to the right of this site and join in with others who follow our dialog and social network.
-myBarackObama.com/White House Prayer Team Enjoy our daily blog there!
We look forward to you joining our network of believers!
In His Service - WHPT
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