The_AT Upside_NN1 of_IO Depression_NN1 History_NN1 largely_RR records_VVZ the_AT 1930s_MC2 as_II a_AT1 bleak_JJ chapter_NN1 in_II American_JJ life_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB some_DD famous_JJ survivors_NN2 fondly_RR recall_VV0 a_AT1 time_NNT1 of_IO resourcefulness_NN1 ,_, altruism_NN1 ,_, and_CC even_RR joy_NN1 ._. 
Early_RR in_II Studs_NN2 Terkel_NP1 's_GE Hard_JJ Times_NNT2 ,_, before_CS the_AT tales_NN2 of_IO Depression-era_JJ woe_NN1 get_VV0 rolling_JJ ,_, we_PPIS2 hear_VV0 from_II a_AT1 startling_JJ young_JJ man_NN1 ._. 
Jerome_NP1 Zerbe_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 celebrity_NN1 photographer_NN1 for_IF Parade_NN1 magazine_NN1 ,_, not_XX only_RR remained_VVD stylish_JJ during_II the_AT downturn_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 remembered_VVD it_PPH1 fondly_RR ._. 
"_" The_AT Thirties_MC2 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 told_VVD Terkel_NP1 ,_, "_" was_VBDZ a_AT1 glamorous_JJ ,_, glittering_JJ moment_NN1 ._. "_" 
In_II Zerbe_NP1 's_GE New_NP1 York_NP1 City_NN1 there_EX were_VBDR no_AT bread_NN1 lines_NN2 ,_, no_AT apple_NN1 salesmen_NN2 ,_, and_CC certainly_RR no_AT worried_JJ faces_NN2 as_CSA he_PPHS1 partied_VVD in_II the_AT Rainbow_NN1 Room_NN1 with_IW Roosevelt_NP1 's_GE heirs_NN2 ._. 
Central_JJ Park_NN1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 jungle_NN1 of_IO cardboard_JJ shacks_NN2 ,_, unemployment_NN1 hung_VVN above_II 20_MC percent_NNU ._. 
Yet_RR for_IF him_PPHO1 "_" there_EX was_VBDZ never_RR any_DD sign_NN1 of_IO poverty_NN1 ,_, "_" just_RR a_AT1 few_DA2 nattering_JJ headlines_NN2 in_II the_AT newspaper_NN1 ._. 
Was_VBDZ Zerbe_NP1 's_GE experience_NN1 unusual_JJ ?_? 
It_PPH1 certainly_RR departs_VVZ from_II the_AT usual_JJ Depression_NN1 gloom_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB it_PPH1 is_VBZ n't_XX unique_JJ in_II its_APPGE distance_NN1 --_JJ emotional_JJ ,_, social_JJ ,_, and_CC economic_JJ --_NN1 from_II the_AT worst_JJT of_IO the_AT '30s_MC2 ._. 
Every_AT1 few_DA2 pages_NN2 ,_, in_II fact_NN1 ,_, Terkel_NP1 's_GE award-winning_JJ oral_JJ history_NN1 fluoresces_VVZ with_IW surprisingly_RR positive_JJ testimony_NN1 :_: alongside_RL fear_VV0 ,_, hunger_NN1 ,_, and_CC desperation_NN1 ,_, there_EX was_VBDZ also_RR "_" fun_JJ "_" in_II soup_NN1 lines_NN2 ,_, "_" hope_VV0 "_" and_CC "_" excitement_NN1 "_" in_II job_NN1 queues_NN2 ,_, and_CC light-hearted_JJ resilience_NN1 in_II the_AT face_NN1 of_IO "_" hard_JJ times_NNT2 ._. "_" 
Just_RR a_AT1 few_DA2 months_NNT2 ago_RA ,_, stories_NN2 comparing_VVG our_APPGE current_JJ financial_JJ woes_NN2 to_II those_DD2 of_IO the_AT Great_JJ Depression_NN1 were_VBDR everywhere_RL ,_, as_CSA reporters_NN2 dusted_VVD off_RP all_DB the_AT stock_NN1 images_NN2 of_IO a_AT1 cratering_JJ economy_NN1 :_: tent_NN1 cities_NN2 ,_, drought_NN1 ,_, abandoned_VVD boxcars_NN2 ,_, mental_JJ breakdowns_NN2 ,_, crime_NN1 sprees_NN2 ._. 
These_DD2 days_NNT2 the_AT analogies_NN2 seem_VV0 less_RGR prevalent_JJ ,_, as_CSA the_AT same_DA forecasters_NN2 who_PNQS last_MD winter_NNT1 warned_VVN of_IO another_DD1 historic_JJ tar_NN1 pit_NN1 point_NN1 to_II the_AT first_MD green_JJ shoots_NN2 of_IO recovery_NN1 ._. 
The_AT bright_JJ spots_NN2 are_VBR limited_VVN ,_, to_TO be_VBI sure_JJ ,_, and_CC much_DA1 of_IO the_AT country_NN1 is_VBZ still_RR in_II an_AT1 economic_JJ stranglehold_NN1 ,_, with_IW 16_MC percent_NNU of_IO the_AT workforce_NN1 unemployed_JJ or_CC underemployed_JJ ,_, 7_MC million_NNO additional_JJ homes_NN2 at_II risk_NN1 of_IO foreclosure_NN1 over_II the_AT next_MD year_NNT1 ,_, and_CC welfare_NN1 rolls_NN2 on_II the_AT rise_NN1 ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 do_VD0 n't_XX think_VVI the_AT worst_JJT is_VBZ over_RP ,_, "_" Larry_NP1 Summers_NP1 ,_, the_AT president_NN1 's_GE top_JJ economic_JJ adviser_NN1 ,_, told_VVD the_AT Financial_JJ Times_NNT2 in_II July_NPM1 ._. 
At_II the_AT same_DA time_NNT1 ,_, the_AT economic_JJ skies_NN2 have_VH0 cleared_VVN enough_RR for_IF musings_NN2 to_TO emerge_VVI about_II the_AT shape_NN1 of_IO our_APPGE postrecession_NN1 world_NN1 ._. 
(_( "_" More_RGR environmentally_RR orientated_VVN "_" and_CC "_" less_DAR consumption_NN1 oriented_VVD ,_, "_" says_VVZ Summers_NP1 ._. )_) 
Which_DDQ leaves_VVZ a_AT1 lingering_JJ question_NN1 :_: was_VBDZ all_DB the_AT recent_JJ Great_JJ Depression_NN1 talk_NN1 completely_RR off_II the_AT mark_NN1 ?_? 
Not_XX if_CS we_PPIS2 use_VV0 it_PPH1 as_II a_AT1 guide_NN1 for_IF how_RRQ we_PPIS2 may_VM eventually_RR recall_VVI our_APPGE own_DA so-called_JJ Great_JJ Recession_NN1 --_NN1 as_II a_AT1 period_NN1 of_IO hardship_NN1 ,_, but_CCB also_RR a_AT1 time_NNT1 of_IO hope_NN1 and_CC opportunity_NN1 ._. 
In_II more_DAR than_CSN a_AT1 dozen_NNO interviews_NN2 conducted_VVN by_II NEWSWEEK_NP1 ,_, famous_JJ children_NN2 of_IO the_AT Great_JJ Depression_NN1 --_NN1 Pulitzer_NP1 Prize-winners_NN2 ,_, Supreme_JJ Court_NN1 justices_NN2 ,_, entertainers_NN2 ,_, musicians_NN2 ,_, and_CC scholars_NN2 who_PNQS shaped_VVD our_APPGE postwar_JJ world_NN1 --_NN1 recall_VV0 an_AT1 era_NN1 more_RRR Jerome_NP1 Zerbe_NP1 than_CSN John_NP1 Steinbeck_NP1 ._. 
Yes_UH ,_, there_EX were_VBDR pitchfork_NN1 mobs_NN2 ,_, bank_NN1 runs_VVZ ,_, suicides_NN2 ,_, and_CC divorces_NN2 ._. 
There_EX were_VBDR dropouts_NN2 ,_, hoboes_NN2 ,_, and_CC millions_NNO2 of_IO unemployed_JJ workers_NN2 seeking_VVG government_NN1 relief_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB interviewees_NN2 also_RR described_VVN a_AT1 parallel_JJ history_NN1 of_IO good_JJ times_NNT2 as_RG well_RR as_CSA bad_JJ ,_, victories_NN2 as_II31 well_II32 as_II33 defeats_NN2 ,_, and_CC a_AT1 surprising_JJ sense_NN1 of_IO stability_NN1 ,_, safety_NN1 and_CC optimism_NN1 amid_II the_AT general_JJ chaos_NN1 ._. 
We_PPIS2 forget_VV0 that_CST even_RR during_II the_AT Depression_NN1 ,_, there_EX was_VBDZ a_AT1 fairly_RR conventional_JJ spread_NN1 of_IO experiences_NN2 :_: a_AT1 third_MD of_IO the_AT country_NN1 suffered_VVD of_RR21 course_RR22 ,_, but_CCB most_DAT people_NN were_VBDR untouched_JJ by_II the_AT mayhem_NN1 ,_, and_CC many_DA2 did_VDD better_RRR than_CSN they_PPHS2 had_VHD done_VDN before_RT ._. 
"_" The_AT story_NN1 of_IO the_AT Depression_NN1 is_VBZ often_RR told_VVN as_CS21 if_CS22 everybody_PN1 suffered_VVD ,_, everybody_PN1 worried_JJ ,_, and_CC nobody_PN1 had_VHD a_AT1 good_JJ time_NNT1 ,_, "_" says_VVZ University_NN1 of_IO Washington_NP1 historian_NN1 James_NP1 Gregory_NP1 ._. 
"_" That_DD1 's_VBZ wrong_JJ ._. "_" 
We_PPIS2 still_RR do_VD0 n't_XX know_VVI whether_CSW President_NNB Obama_NP1 's_GE $787_NNU billion_NNO stimulus_NN1 program_NN1 will_VM rally_VVI the_AT economy_NN1 ,_, or_CC when_RRQ ._. 
But_CCB no_RGQV31 matter_RGQV32 how_RGQV33 delayed_VVN the_AT recovery_NN1 ,_, or_CC how_RGQ bleak_JJ the_AT documentaries_NN2 and_CC iconic_JJ photos_NN2 of_IO crying_VVG stockbrokers_NN2 ,_, it_PPH1 is_VBZ likely_JJ that_CST on_II a_AT1 personal_JJ level_NN1 we_PPIS2 will_VM remember_VVI this_DD1 period_NN1 as_CSA those_DD2 who_PNQS lived_VVD through_II the_AT Depression_NN1 remember_VV0 that_DD1 era_NN1 :_: as_II a_AT1 time_NNT1 that_CST was_VBDZ n't_XX all_DB bad_JJ --_NN1 but_CCB rather_RG a_AT1 mix_NN1 of_IO lucky_JJ breaks_NN2 ,_, unfair_JJ twists_NN2 of_IO fate_NN1 ,_, sweet_JJ times_NNT2 ,_, and_CC sour_JJ medicine_NN1 ._. 
In_II The_AT New_JJ Yorker_NP1 in_II 2007_MC ,_, author_NN1 John_NP1 Updike_NP1 recalled_VVD the_AT quiet_JJ ,_, unchanging_JJ towns_NN2 ,_, safe_JJ schools_NN2 ,_, and_CC great_JJ movies_NN2 of_IO the_AT Depression_NN1 ._. 
Many_DA2 of_IO NEWSWEEK_NP1 's_GE interviews_NN2 differ_VV0 in_II detail_NN1 but_CCB nonetheless_RR echo_VV0 his_APPGE surprising_JJ nostalgia_NN1 ._. 
Writer_NN1 Cynthia_NP1 Ozick_NP1 remembers_VVZ a_AT1 bucolic_JJ Bronx_NP1 ,_, N.Y._NP1 ,_, childhood_NN1 ringed_VVD by_II stability_NN1 and_CC run-of-the-mill_JJ money_NN1 troubles_NN2 ,_, while_CS golfer_NN1 Arnold_NP1 Palmer_NP1 ,_, whose_DDQGE family_NN1 was_VBDZ lashed_VVN together_RL by_II their_APPGE lack_NN1 of_IO cash_NN1 ,_, doubts_VVZ that_CST he_PPHS1 would_VM have_VHI liked_VVN growing_VVG up_RP in_II a_AT1 richer_JJR time_NNT1 ._. 
Author_NN1 Gay_JJ Talese_NN ,_, who_PNQS witnessed_VVD wealthy-looking_JJ women_NN2 reduced_VVN to_II bartering_VVG in_II his_APPGE mother_NN1 's_GE dress_NN1 shop_NN1 ,_, credits_VVZ the_AT Depression_NN1 with_IW schooling_VVG him_PPHO1 in_II the_AT distance_NN1 between_II reality_NN1 and_CC appearances_NN2 ,_, inspiring_VVG much_DA1 of_IO his_APPGE early_JJ writing_NN1 ._. 
Much_RR like_II Talese_NN ,_, Supreme_JJ Court_NN1 Justice_NN1 Ruth_NP1 Bader_NP1 Ginsburg_NP1 believed_VVD that_CST the_AT Depression_NN1 in_II many_DA2 ways_NN2 left_VVD the_AT country_NN1 better_RRR than_CSN it_PPH1 found_VVD it_PPH1 ._. 
Social_JJ Security_NN1 ,_, minimum-wage_JJ laws_NN2 ,_, and_CC extra_JJ government_NN1 aide_NN1 for_IF college_NN1 kids_NN2 ,_, she_PPHS1 argues_VVZ ,_, are_VBR among_II the_AT more_RGR obvious_JJ legacies_NN2 of_IO the_AT 1930s_MC2 ._. 
But_CCB the_AT Depression_NN1 also_RR had_VHN a_AT1 happy_JJ impact_NN1 on_II reading_NN1 ,_, the_AT arts_NN2 and_CC child_NN1 rearing_VVG ._. 
America_NP1 had_VHD so_RG many_DA2 fighting_NN1 men_NN2 during_II WWII_NN1 partly_RR because_CS child-labor_JJ laws_NN2 enforced_VVN during_II the_AT Depression_NN1 drove_VVD up_RP literacy_NN1 levels_NN2 ,_, qualifying_VVG more_DAR people_NN for_IF military_JJ service_NN1 ._. 
The_AT Federal_JJ Writer_NN1 's_GE Project_NN1 gave_VVD hundreds_NNO2 of_IO artists_NN2 a_AT1 boost_NN1 ,_, including_II novelist_NN1 John_NP1 Cheever_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS was_VBDZ living_VVG on_II raisins_NN2 and_CC buttermilk_VV0 before_II the_AT government_NN1 signed_VVD him_PPHO1 up_RP as_II a_AT1 scribe_NN1 ._. 
And_CC while_CS the_AT "_" Congress_NN1 of_IO Mothers_NN2 "_" tried_VVD to_TO woo_VVI fathers_NN2 by_II changing_VVG its_APPGE name_NN1 to_II the_AT "_" Parent_NN1 Teacher_NN1 Association_NN1 "_" in_II 1924_MC ,_, it_PPH1 took_VVD the_AT Depression_NN1 to_TO help_VVI push_NN1 dads_NN2 into_II action_NN1 as_CSA role_NN1 models_NN2 ,_, even_CS21 if_CS22 they_PPHS2 could_VM n't_XX be_VBI breadwinners_NN2 ._. 
By_II the_AT mid-1930s_MC2 ,_, three_MC quarters_NN2 of_IO American_JJ men_NN2 said_VVD they_PPHS2 regularly_RR read_VV0 magazine_NN1 articles_NN2 on_II childcare_NN1 ,_, and_CC nearly_RR as_RG many_DA2 men_NN2 as_CSA women_NN2 were_VBDR in_II the_AT PTA_NP1 ._. 
