62% of Americans Opposed FDR's 1939 Thanksgiving Date Change, Gallup Poll Revealed

Washington D.C. – President Franklin D. Roosevelt's decision in 1939 to move Thanksgiving a week earlier sparked widespread controversy and led to a period famously dubbed "Franksgiving." The move, intended to stimulate the economy during the Great Depression by extending the holiday shopping season, was met with significant public and political backlash, with a Gallup poll indicating 62% of Americans opposed the change. This presidential decree fractured the nation's holiday observance, resulting in two separate Thanksgiving celebrations for three years.

President Roosevelt, responding to appeals from major retailers seeking more shopping days before Christmas, announced in August 1939 that Thanksgiving would be observed on November 23 instead of the traditional last Thursday, November 30. "FDR claimed the move was made at the request of big retailers, and many stores rejoiced at the change," according to the historical account. The retail sector hoped an earlier holiday would boost sales in an otherwise sluggish economy.

The decision ignited a partisan firestorm, with Republican governors largely rejecting the change and coining the term "Franksgiving." Democrats, conversely, tended to align with the President's new date. This division led to a chaotic holiday season, where "Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia celebrated the new date, while 22 states stuck with November 30," as stated in the provided content. Three states—Colorado, Mississippi, and Texas—observed both dates.

Beyond political lines, the date change caused considerable disruption for various groups, including college football teams whose traditional rivalry games were scheduled for the original date. Calendar manufacturers faced losses as millions of printed calendars became obsolete. While large retailers welcomed the potential for increased profits, smaller businesses often complained they would lose out to larger competitors.

Despite the initial economic rationale, a 1941 Commerce Department survey later found no significant expansion of retail sales directly attributable to the earlier Thanksgiving. Recognizing the ongoing confusion and lack of clear economic benefit, President Roosevelt, without fanfare, announced in June 1941 that Thanksgiving would permanently be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. This resolution was formalized by a joint congressional resolution in December 1941, establishing the date that has remained ever since.