Before delving into the world of FDR as president, one must understand FDR the governor. During his time as governor of New York, FDR had developed a reputation for himself, one of a man who is willing and ready to back liberal reforms. This was mainly due to his abolishing of the death penalty, the support the provided to pensioners and farmers alike, as well as his readiness to allocate more money for schools. However, FDR also developed a not so friendly relationship with the elites of the democratic party, they viewed him as someone who lacked a backbone. This reputation allowed FDR to establish himself as a humble man, one who would openly seek advice from those perhaps better educated on a certain topic. For example, FDR was the first president to seek advice from university professors, an all too often underused resource in society. This allowed FDR to better connect with the average American, something he excelled at due to his relentless news bureau, radio interviews, and his press conferences. However, without a doubt, despite all of the successes enjoyed by FDR during his time as governor of New York, the greatest crisis he faced was the Great Depression. Despite not entirely understanding exactly how to make it better, FDR understood the realities of the situation, as well as the need to pragmatic. By 1931 there were over 800,000 unemployed people in New York. FDR most definitely preferred the practical, but he also believed in the concepts of progress and the important role the state held in thing care of its citizens. Therefore, in response to the effects of the Great Depression, FDR created the Temporary Emergency Relief Administration (TERA) with an initial appropriation of $20 million targeted for the emergency relief of the unemployed. Able-bodied workers without jobs would get relief from the state—first home (direct) relief and then the more desirable work relief. Roosevelt thus set a precedent by creating a new agency to meet a new problem, one he relied on during the New Deal years. Hopkins concentrated on creating a program in New York State that could set an example for other states. This was important, he believed, because the TERA represented “the first enactment under which a State, as such, had accepted any liability for the s