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1930 census - William Brooks (Photo credit: Birdie Holsclaw)[/caption]But when I get to the 1930 census, I usually point out the odd question in column 9 "Radio Set". Then one night, I put out this theory and readily admitted it was just a theory! We know that various levels of government have access to census results as soon as the data is complied...no 72 year rule. As I was trying to rationalize why the radio question appeared, I came up with lots of ideas, and if anyone knows the answer, PLEASE add a comment and straighten out my thinking. Then I ask the class who do they know who may have taken unusual advantage of the radio data in the early 1930's.
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Photograph of a young girl listening to the radio during the Great Depression. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]I have this "theory" about a particular by-product of the data from column 9: I'm quite sure that FDR was privy to all of the data available to him as President. My theory is that he very creatively saw the usefulness of how many American households were listening to radios during the Great Depression. I believe he came up with the idea that this was a new and very modern way to communicate to the masses; an early 20th century Twitter or Facebook account! I believe....and I certainly have no proof...that FDR crafted his fireside chats as a result of the knowledge that he could easily reach perhaps millions of Americans by broadcasting to all the households where a radio was available.
Your thoughts??
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