Shortly after taking office, Franklin Roosevelt took to the airwaves to explain his New Deal to the American public. Fireside chats allowed Roosevelt to address large numbers of Americans by radio as they sat in their homes, making his words feel more personal. The following video clip contains excerpts of Roosevelt’s May 7, 1933, fireside chat, an address also filmed and shown in theaters. The newly elected president outlined his plans and discussed many of the themes that would characterize the New Deal through the rest of the decade. (2:04)