Why were fireside chats important?

The fireside chats of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt were an important means for the president to inform the public about his programs and to allay their fears of the mounting problems caused by the Great Depression. The fireside chats were radio addresses given by the president during the 1930s.

President Roosevelt's programs for recovery from the Great Depression were known as the New Deal. Their purpose was to give relief to those in need, bring about economic recovery and institute financial reforms. The fireside chats made people feel as though the president was talking to them, and they encouraged people to support the New Deal.