Citizens of Heaven: Conservative American Protesant Reactions to New Deal Legislation
In September 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent a letter to clergymen across the nation asking for feedback, counsel, and advice. This project examines two separate, but connected questions. First, what compelled Roosevelt to send the letter, which represented a departure from his established patterns of gauging public opinion? Second, what can we learn from the responses submitted by conservative Protestant ministers? The project begins with a detailed investigation of Roosevelt's letter- what compelled the President to send it, how was it prepared, and how were the responses compiled. This is followed by an examination of the letters received from conservative Protestant ministers from seven representative states, specifically focusing on their responses to federal relief aid, Social Security, New Deal agricultural programs, and their assessment of the current spiritual state of the nation.Roosevelt's decision to send the letter demonstrates his view of clergymen as spokesmen for their congregations. He was confident that religious leaders were capable of providing access to the sentiments of their congregants, which were difficult to otherwise discern before widespread political polling. The conservative clergymen's responses help us to see a direct link between the political activism of the fundamentalists during the Progressive Era and the emergence of a powerful Christian Right in the 1950s. Though these conservative Protestant clergymen did not play a significant role in national politics during the 1930s, they did not retreat from political and civic activity. They saw themselves as informed citizens and community leaders qualified to offer unbiased counsel. Though they respected government authority, their primary allegiance was to God. They advocated for more intentional interaction between the President and religious leaders, committed to support government actions that reflected Christian principles, and offered specific criticism of programs and legislation that threatened God's authority. The clergymen urged Roosevelt to heed their counsel, confident that God would use them to usher in a period of genuine religious revival and renewed spiritual fervor across the nation, which they believed was necessary for true stability.
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