F.D.R. And The Work Reform Programs The Great Depression was a time of doubt, unemployment, and above all, hopelessness. The people needed someone to save them from starving. So when a strong willed man full of ideas ran for presidency, the people voted for him. This man set up so many programs to help the people that they were back on their feet in no time. These programs were called “The New Deal.” One part of “The New Deal” was to help the unemployed and their rights as workers. When Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in 1933, he immediately began to start new programs to help the people. The programs that we