(2) Sea Level

President Roosevelt was writing so that anyone listening could fully understand what he was trying to say. Not to say that Americans had poor vocabulary skills (although, the literacy level in the 30s was lower than it is today), but FDR's intent was to explain the banking industry in terms anyone could understand…so that they could grok his plan to turn the country around.

There are a few words here and there that might make you stumble, but the general message of the speech is clear and straightforward—no MBA or finance background required.