Chris Hallam - East Devon historian

Ninety years ago in March 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was sworn in as the 32nd president of the USA. Roosevelt (commonly known as FDR) had come to power at a uniquely perilous moment in both American and global history. At home, the American people were suffering deeply in the aftermath of the Great Depression which had started after the Wall Street Crash of 1929. FDR, a Democrat, had won a landslide election in 1932 by promising a “New Deal”, pledging to use government power to help save the population from the worst excesses of the slump. His predecessor, Republican President Herbert Hoover had become very unpopular after refusing to intervene to help ease the crisis.

Ninety years ago in March 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was sworn in as the 32nd president of the USA. Roosevelt (commonly known as FDR) had come to power at a uniquely perilous moment in both American and global history. At home, the American people were suffering deeply in the aftermath of the Great Depression which had started after the Wall Street Crash of 1929. FDR, a Democrat, had won a landslide election in 1932 by promising a “New Deal”, pledging to use government power to help save the population from the worst excesses of the slump. His predecessor, Republican President Herbert Hoover had become very unpopular after refusing to intervene to help ease the crisis.

Ninety years ago in March 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was sworn in as the 32nd president of the USA. Roosevelt (commonly known as FDR) had come to power at a uniquely perilous moment in both American and global history. At home, the American people were suffering deeply in the aftermath of the Great Depression which had started after the Wall Street Crash of 1929. FDR, a Democrat, had won a landslide election in 1932 by promising a “New Deal”, pledging to use government power to help save the population from the worst excesses of the slump. His predecessor, Republican President Herbert Hoover had become very unpopular after refusing to intervene to help ease the crisis.

East Devon historian Chris Hallam asks if Adolf Hitler is the most evil person to have ever lived.

The year was 1501 when the Spanish infanta, Catherine of Aragon began her long, slow journey to England to meet the boy she would marry.

The year was 1501 when the Spanish infanta, Catherine of Aragon began her long, slow journey to England to meet the boy she would marry.

The year was 1501 when the Spanish infanta, Catherine of Aragon began her long, slow journey to England to meet the boy she would marry.

Some monarchs are bad because they are totally incompetent or hopeless: think Henry VI or perhaps Stephen. Others are bad because they are actually evil: take ‘Bloody’ Mary, for example, or perhaps her father Henry VIII on a bad day. King John seems to have been both: a hopeless ruler and a truly despicable character. This is probably why there has never been a King John II.

Some monarchs are bad because they are totally incompetent or hopeless: think Henry VI or perhaps Stephen. Others are bad because they are actually evil: take ‘Bloody’ Mary, for example, or perhaps her father Henry VIII on a bad day. King John seems to have been both: a hopeless ruler and a truly despicable character. This is probably why there has never been a King John II.

Some monarchs are bad because they are totally incompetent or hopeless: think Henry VI or perhaps Stephen. Others are bad because they are actually evil: take ‘Bloody’ Mary, for example, or perhaps her father Henry VIII on a bad day. King John seems to have been both: a hopeless ruler and a truly despicable character. This is probably why there has never been a King John II.