232 ChaPter^4
hope, for FDR did express his concern for the American people and cer-
tainly was willing to adapt government policies to seek solutions to the most
destructive economic calamity in U.S. history. By the end of the 1930s, the
government was involved in the economy in ways that were not imaginable
earlier—setting up industrial associations to determine production and prices,
giving workers the right to have unions, but not creating a level playing field
between Capital and labor, offering relief to the needy, but expecting them to
work to earn their keep in an era of incredible unemployment and loss of
land. But FDR’s main goal in 1933 was to save Capitalism, and he indeed
did. By regulating industry, agriculture, and banking he saved the system from
the “damn greedy” businessmen who had caused the turmoil and tragedies of
the depression. In 1938 and 1939, the unemployment rate was still close to
20 percent, and millions remained on relief. Dr. New Deal had saved more
than a few patients from absolute ruin, perhaps millions, but they remained in
economic intensive care. Sadly, it would take the dark clouds of war in
Europe to finally lead to a brighter economy in the United States.