Good grief. I suppose people would rather have somebody make them feel good about themselves than actually have to do it themselves by accomplishing something. Hence FDR and Slick Willy. At least with Reagan they had a reason to feel good again.
Well, when the economy has gone to hell, and one in four is unemployed, and farmers are losing their land, and banks are failing left and right, and the president doesn't seem to give a damn then sure, I suppose people would rather have someone who actually acted like he cared and that he might be able to accomplish something. FDR, like Kennedy, had charisma. He made people believe again.