During the 1920s, America was a prosperous nation going through the "Big Boom" and loving every second of it. However, this fortune did not last long, as the 1930s were marked by a period of severe economic recession, called the Great Depression. In 1933, a quarter of the country's workers (about 40 million) were unemployed. The weekly income rate fell from $24.76 per week in 1929 to $16.65 per week in 1933 (McElvaine, 8). After President Hoover failed to remedy the recessionary situation, Franklin D. Roosevelt began his term with the New Deal, full of hope. In two installments, Roosevelt hoped to relieve short-term suffering with the first and redistribute the money among the poor with the second. Throughout these Depression years, many Americans expressed their opinions using pen and paper. Many criticized Hoover's policies at the start of the Great Depression and praised the Roosevelts' efforts. Every opinion about the causes and solutions of the Great Depression is based on the economic, racial, and social situation in America. At the start of the Depression, many (mostly discouraging) letters were sent to President Hoover. These letters came mainly from well-off citizens, but some letters from left-wing workers also found their way. Wealthy citizens agreed that the ultimate cause of the depression of the lower classes was their laziness and incompetence. On top of that, these wealthy citizens thanked Hoover, probably because their money remained unscathed (McElvaine, 38). Some opinions, however, were not as favorable to the Hoover administration. Some believed that “engineers can be smart but mediocre presidents” (p. 43). Finally, the left-wing parties did not appreciate President Hoover's efforts... middle of paper... to their misfortune. The rich blamed the poor, the poor blamed the rich, the middle class blamed the blacks, and no one took responsibility. One of the complaints of most of these social classes (except for the few who benefited) was the lack of success of the New Deal and other relief efforts. Whether blacks had too many jobs or the poor were too lazy to receive aid, very few Americans seemed satisfied with Roosevelt's solution. This did not stop its popularity. Many Americans supported their president, rain or shine, depression or boom. Regardless of their position, these citizens who turned to the president in times of despair have proven that the pen truly is mightier. Works Cited McElvaine, Robert S, ed. Broken down during the Great Depression: Letters from the Forgotten Man. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1983.