The Two Faces of Liberalism

The unique feature of this collection of 60 original documents is that the reader, with the assistance of an explanatory introduction, can follow the dynamics of the debate between Hoover and FDR. The reader will come to grips with the compelling intricacies of each argument as they unfold. The aim of this collection is not to substantiate or disprove any of the prevailing theories regarding the Great Depression and the New Deal. The aim is to present the original arguments which will allow the actors and documents to speak for themselves, thus promoting a conversation between the present generation and the most prominent actors of the New Deal era.

The original readings selected and edited here will encourage us to take a fresh look at the material surrounding the New Deal controversy. The speeches and addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover, along with sample Acts of Congress, the presidential platforms of the two major political parties, as well as critical Supreme Court decisions that first declared the core legislation to be unconstitutional and then constitutionalzed the New Deal, have been collected under one roof and assembled in an accessible and yet comprehensive fashion.