You have to have more than a spoonful of patriotism to take office as President during the biggest economic disaster in a country's recent history. And Franky D. wants to pass on that patriotism to the good people on the other end of the radio waves.

After all, he didn't want people giving up on the good US of A just because…well, because they couldn't get to their money.

FDR invokes calls to patriotism a few times in "First Fireside Chat." In describing to the people what had happened in recent days, Roosevelt says "the second step […] was the legislation promptly and patriotically passed by the Congress […] broadening my powers" (19).

Shortly after, he says "the national Congress—Republicans and Democrats alike—showed by this action a devotion to public welfare" (21). FDR uses the word "patriotically" as well as referencing bipartisan behavior of the political parties, both strongly pushing the message of America operating as a whole, undivided unit.

Roosevelt's reference to Congress acting patriotically is crucial because he is admitting that as president, he's now more powerful than pretty much anyone. The laws Congress passed essentially gave Roosevelt more ability to single-handedly make decisions concerning the flow of money in the country. (Later, Roosevelt would draw heavy criticism for this action, and others, and even gained the reputation of wielding his power like a king.)

In the second sentence where he mentions Republicans and Democrats working together, FDR smartly gets the American people on board by implying that this financial crisis is not about politics, but is about getting the country united and on its feet.

Luckily, that's exactly what the American people wanted to hear.