The Polio Epidemic - FDR & The March of Dimes - Extra History

Feast your eyes upon the weirdness that is alternate history: 1929 24th October In the United States, the New York Stock Exchange Collapses when Panicking Shareholders try Desperately to Sell their Stocks. The Dow Jones Loses 6.83 Points and the Market Loses $30,000,000,000. 1932 13th February In the United States, many in America Fear the worst when Vice-President Charles Curtis, the Presumptive Democratic Candidate to Succeed Herbert Hoover, Suffers a Heart Attack. The Presidential Palace Announces that the Vice-President is slowly Recovering. If he is Elected, Curtis will be the First President of Native American Ancestry, but his Poor Health seems to be an Ill Omen for the End of the Hoover Administration. 1933 4th March In the United States, the Former Governor of New York State, Franklin D. Roosevelt, is Sworn into Office as the 32nd President of The United States of America, Succeding Herbert Hoover. His Running Mate, Businessman Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., is Sworn into Office as Vice President, Succeding Charles Curtis. In his Inaugural Address, President Roosevelt Proclaims: “this Great Nation shall Endure as it has Endured, will Revive and will Prosper. So, First of all, let me Assert my Firm Belief that we have nothing to Fear but Fear itself ~ Nameless, Unreasoning, Unjustified Terror which Paralyzes Efforts to Convert Retreat into Advance.” The new Members of the Presidential Cabinet are Confirmed by the U.S. Senate in only 35 Minutes in an Extraordinarily short Session and then Sworn in, Including the First Woman to Serve at the Cabinet Level, Frances Perkins, Secretary of Labour. 9th March In the United States, the Emergency Banking Act, Allowing only Federal Reserve ~ Approved Banks to Operate in the United States, is Passed by the U.S. Congress, the First of President Roosevelt’s “New Deal” Policies. 14th March In the United States, the American Bank Holiday comes to an End for all Banks. Much to everyone’s Relief, when the Institutions Reopen for Business, Depositors stand in line to Return their Stashed Cash to Neighbourhood Banks. Within Two Weeks, Americans have Redeposited more than Half of the Currency they had Squirreled away before the Bank Suspension. The Stock Market Registers its Approval as well. 15th March In the United States, on the First Day of Trading after the Extended Closure, the New York Stock Exchange Records the largest One ~ Day Percentage Price Increase ever. With the Benefit of Hindsight, the Nationwide Bank Holiday and the Emergency Banking Act End the Bank Runs that had Plagued the Great Depression. 22nd March In the United States, President Roosevelt Legalises the Sale of 3.2% Beer [Thought to be too low an Alcohol Concentration to be Intoxicating] and Wine, the First Legal Beer Sales since the beginning of Prohibition in 1920. 12th May In the United States, the Agricultural Adjustment Act is Enacted, Restricting Agricultural Production by Paying Farmers Subsidies not to Plant Part of their Land and to Kill off Excess Livestock. Its Purpose is to Reduce Crop Surplus and therefore Effectively Raise the Value of Crops. The Money for these Subsidies is Generated through an Exclusive Tax on Companies which Process Farm Products. The Act Creates a new Agency, the Agricultural Adjustment Administration, to Oversee the Distribution of the Subsidies. 16th June In the United States, the National Recovery Act is Signed into Law after being Passed by the U.S. Congress, Authorising the President of the United States to Regulate Industry and Permit Cartels and Monopolies in an Attempt to Stimulate Economic Recovery, and Establishes the National Recovery Administration, Outlines what Projects and Funding Opportunities it can Engage in, and Finances the Act. 5th December In the United States, the Twenty ~ First Amendment to the United States Constitution, Repealing the Eighteenth Amendment that Enacted Prohibition, is Ratified by 36th of 48 State Conventions, bringing the Necessary 3/4ths Majority Necessary to take Effect. 1939 In the United States, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” a Poem by Robert L. May, is Published by Montgomery Ward, Inc. in the City of Chicago, Illinois.

Martin Verran

This was wonderful. As much as I know about FDR and The March of Dimes, no one else spelled out their connection, until you did. I didn't know that's why FDR is on our dimes. :)

Bill Lemmond

I take it it has finally been announced Extra History is the cure for Covid-19?

Martin Verran

You should look into doing video on thalidomide babies. And dangers of untested medicines.

Dang, you all are covering all the epidemics now.

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