Broadcasting nationally from Columbia outlet KHJ in Los Angeles, Chaplin appealed to the country to show its support for Roosevelt's N.R.A. (National Recovery Adminstration). It had been five years since Chaplin's last national radio broadcast, so this was the first time many listeners had heard his voice and were "surprised and thrilled at his British accent." He began his 900-word speech by saying:
When I was notified from Washington to speak in behalf of the N. R. A., I was asked to be serious. So when I am asked to be serious, I shall be serious. Like the young lady at a Jewish ball, when a young gentleman went up to her and said: ‘Excuse me, are you dencing?' she answered: ‘Are you esking” ‘Sure, I'm esking.’ ’Den, I’m dencing.’ So, like the young lady, then I am serious."He continued....
As you know, the code of the N. R. A. is for reducing the hours of labor, raising the wages to a higher level and increasing the purchasing power of the people. Whether this can be accomplished or not depends upon the patriotism and goodwill of every citizen of this country.
Stressing the necessity of “buying now," he said:
Those who are fortunate enough to have money should spend it. Be like the little boy who was given 10 cents and was asked what he would do with it. He said: ‘I'm going to buy an ice cream soda!' But, said the giver: ‘Wouldn't you like to give it to a missionary to help the savages in Africa?'‘Sure, but I'll buy an ice cream soda and ask the soda clerk to do that.'Chaplin then referred to the "11,000,000 unemployed":
Naturally this appeal is not made to them. But there are 90,000,000 people in America, myself included, who have means--who have the purchasing power to buy now and can help to put those unemployed back to work. After all, we are not making any sacrifices. On the contrary, it is to our advantage if we buy now, because prices are bound to rise later on.Concluding, he said:
In March when all the banks were closed the people cried for action. Now President Roosevelt has given us that action. The Government has given us a program, and now it is our turn for action. 1
1Boston Globe, October 24th, 1933