# 3185e - 1998 32c Celebrate the Century - 1930s: FDR's New Deal

US #3185e
1998 FDR’s New Deal – Celebrate the Century (1930s)

• Part of the fourth sheet in the Celebrate the Century stamp series issued from 1998-2000
• Honors President Roosevelt’s New Deal
• Includes text on the back with historical details

Stamp Category: Commemorative
Series: Celebrate the Century
Value: 32¢ First Class Mail Rate
First Day of Issue: September 10, 1998
First Day City: Cleveland, Ohio
Quantity Issued: 188,000,000
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset, Intaglio
Format: Panes of 15
Perforations: 11.6
Tagging: Block Tagging

Why the stamp was issued: To commemorate the New Deal implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in order to help turn the economy around during the Great Depression.

About the stamp design: Pictures artwork by Paul Calle of logos, symbols, and initials representing different New Deal agencies. Includes the following text on the back “President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs tried to pull the US out of the Great Depression. They provided some relief and addressed the idea of a government-regulated economy.”

First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at the foot of Cleveland, Ohio’s Terminal Tower Building at Tower City Center. When it first opened in June 1930, the 52-story building was among the tallest buildings in the world and was the tallest west of New York City for 40 years.

About the Celebrate the Century series: The USPS launched the Celebrate the Century series in 1998 to mark the end of the 20th century and herald the arrival of the 21st. The series includes 10 sheets of 15 stamps (150 in total), with each honoring important moments from a different decade (1900s, 10s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s). At the time of completion, it was the longest and most ambitious commemorative stamp series in US history.

History the stamp represents: In the presidential election of 1932, Democratic nominee Franklin D. Roosevelt promised a “new deal” for the “forgotten man.” Reeacting to the ineffectiveness of the Hoover administration in meeting people’s needs during the Great Depression, Americans overwhelmingly voted in favor of this promise.

Much of the New Deal legislation was put into effect during President Roosevelt’s first three months in office. In order to alleviate the suffering of the unemployed, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) were set up. To revive business activity, the National Recovery Administration (NRA) was established. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insured bank deposits, and the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) protected the public from fraudulent stock market practices. Perhaps the most successful and well-known reform made by Roosevelt was the establishment of the Social Security system.

While these reforms proved effective, some detractors claimed that Roosevelt was imposing too much federal control over the states, thus violating the Constitution. Some even believed that the New Deal would lead to socialism.