Dust Bowl: FDR In Bismarck, No. Dakota, Drought, Insect Plagues 1936 Depression: Film [View all]

- FDR with his son Franklin, Jr. and daughter Anna visits the western Dust Bowl area of Bismarck, N. D. to see the effects of drought and grasshopper plague firsthand in summer 1936. We must cooperate with nature says the president.

President Roosevelt's drought inspection trip to Bismarck, N.D. A motion picture cameraman sets up his camera at a railroad station. A steam locomotive pulling the presidential train arrives at the station. The local populace turn out in large numbers to see President Roosevelt arrive. The president stands on the rear platform of his train, assisted by his son, Franklin Jr (FDR Jr.), and accompanied by the Governor of North Dakota, Walter Welford, who introduces the President. The President's daughter, Anna, stands at back of the platform.

President Roosevelt addresses the crowd and assures them that they will win over problem of drought very soon. He says that plan of cooperation with nature should be worked out. The crowd applauds. The President gives an example of steel factories in Indiana and says that steel factories would not run under full capacity unless the agricultural states buy farm machinery and equipment from them.



Excellent intro and coverage.