He even quotes the recently incarcerated Al Capone.
And there are a few good deeds here.
Youve at least rid the country of a number of your own kind, something Im grateful for.
Barring that, things might get… violent.
While technically based on a novel by British author T.F.
He made sure it was released in March 1933… after Roosevelt was sworn in.
The old relationships among the great masses of the people of the earth have disappeared.
The fixed points by which our fathers steered the ship of state have vanished.
This growing cynicism reflected a sense of gnawing despair around the world.
Arriving in Baltimore to speak to the so-called mob, the fictitious president comes with promises instead of weapons.
Now we can feed our own people.
On paper this suggests a reasonable pivot of American policy during a time of crisis.
I propose creating an army that will be known as the Army of Construction, Hammond tells the crowd.
This is borne out in the following sequence, which is perhaps the centerpiece of the film.
At first, he demands in-person $4 billion to fund his Construction Army.
And when politicians from his own majority balk, Hammond substitutes that request with another.
During that period of that adjournment, I shall assume full responsibility of the government.
He eventually adds that Congress has already failed American democracy: You turned your backs.
You closed your ears to the appeals of the people.
Youve been traitors to the concept of democracy on which this government was found.
I believe in democracy as Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln believed in democracy.
An eye for an eye, Nick Diamond, a tooth for a tooth.
A life for a life.
And truthfully many of the problems he faces are reflected in the real-world troubles of 1933.
And Hammonds fears of another world war escalating out of Europe proved only too prescient.
They put their faith in a raging, anti-democratic populist.
