During his presidency, FDR occasionally went on the radio, in what came to be called his “fireside chats,” to directly address the nation as he steered it through the Depression and WWII. Every president that followed continued the tradition. President-elect Barack Obama announced that he will be updating the practice for the digital age by converting his weekly radio addresses into four minute-long YouTube videos. Spokeswoman Jen Psaki explained:
"This is just one of many ways that he will communicate directly with the American people and make the White House and the political process more transparent."
President-elect Obama plans to to publish these weekly updates through the Transition and then from the White House. This week's address concerns the current economic crisis:
Obama has also added a transition website, Change.gov, soliciting suggestions from citizens and providing a guide to the people and procedures behind the transfer of executive power. I think this is pretty smart and - hopefully - a sign of a new era of direct involvement for Americans in the government.
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