During the fall campaign against President Hoover, Roosevelt suggested a few parts of this "new deal." He supported spending for relief and public works. He favored some plan, undefined, to curb the agricultural overproduction that was depressing farm prices. He spoke for conservation, public power, old-age pensions and unemployment insurance, repeal of prohibition, and regulation of the stock exchange. Roosevelt seemed the only viable alternative to Hoover, who many people blamed unfairly for the Depression. Roosevelt was inaugurated president at the age of 51, from the beginning, Roosevelt tried to restore popular confidence by saying, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." He added that he would not stand by and watch the Depression deepen.
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