Mr. Reed mentions that FDR ran on a platform of less government. Indeed, the democratic party platform of 1932 is on-line (http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/showplatforms.php?platindex=D1932). There you can find this:

“The Democratic Party solemnly promises by appropriate action to put into effect the principles, policies, and reforms herein advocated, and to eradicate the policies, methods, and practices herein condemned. We advocate an immediate and drastic reduction of governmental expenditures by abolishing useless commissions and offices, consolidating departments and bureaus, and eliminating extravagance to accomplish a saving of not less than twenty-five per cent in the cost of the Federal Government. And we call upon the Democratic Party in the states to make a zealous effort to achieve a proportionate result.”

Certainly that didn’t happen.