Progressive Reform Quotes
1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor. The phrase was later used by FDR in his 1932 acceptance speech and became the appellation for his programs. However, this was not the first time the "new deal" phrase was used in a political context. Mark Twain used it in 1889 -- see {642436}. It is not known whether or not Roosevelt or his staff were familiar with Lloyd George's use or whether or not either of them were conscious of Twain's 1889 use in his A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.
Actually, both political parties had a range of opinion on the issue of control of the trusts, monopolies and large corporations. Roosevelt and his liberal wing of the Republic opinion were for regulating corporations and strengthening and enforcing the anti-trust laws. However, many of his party refused to admit that there were any abuses and/or if there were, the effect of Federal regulation and anti-trust enforcement would be worse that then problems caused by the trusts. At the same time, the Democrats had Bryan’s wing that wanted to break up the trusts and large corporations, and that is why Roosevelt had so much public support—enough to pass the legislation and make the President’s initiatives very popular. Roosevelt a shrewd campaigner attacked the Democrats knowing full well that many agreed with him, and ignored the conservative wing of his own party who were the ones who actively opposed his corporate reform effort.
