Arduous

Something that is difficult and tiring would be considered arduous…like making it through an entire presidential inaugural address. (Congratulations, you stamina-fueled machine, you.)

Candor

Candor is being blunt and honest. Like the white Siberian tiger, candor from politicians is certainly a rarely seen and endangered creature.

Hey, we're just flexing our candor muscles when we say that.

Dictatorship

A system of government where absolute power is in the hands of one person or organization. It's a lot like living in a house with a toddler…a toddler who controls massive armies and super-dangerous weapons.

Frankly

Like candor, it's another term that means honesty and openness. You might know it best from this least-likely-to-be-considered-romantic romantic line: "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."

Languishes

Languishing is what happens to a plant when it's left in the dark: it grows weak and feeble. (Or, it gains superpowers and tries to eat people—depends on the plant, really.)

Mandate

A mandate is both an official decree or order to do something and a night out on the town for two guy friends. FDR is talking about the former.

New Deal

Roosevelt's campaign promise to improve the lives of all Americans, the phrase "New Deal" came to define the series of progressive programs created in the 1930s, including federal deposit insurance and Social Security.

Speculation

Forming an idea without any facts is pure speculation. The speculation FDR talks about is much of the same thing, but bankers did the speculating with other people's money.

Unscrupulous

Lacking moral principles or being unfair. It's a good word to use when someone cheats at Monopoly.