This is Chapter 29 of The Universal Good Deal, you may want to start at the beginning or go back to Chapter 28.

Welles acted swiftly: she ordered all banks to cease operations for three days, while she distributed a vast quantity of newly-printed cash to all the many financial institutions spread across her nation. Then she made a great speech to her people, which I have recorded here in full.

‘My friends:¹ I want to talk for a few minutes with the people of the United States about money—to talk with the comparatively few who understand the mechanics of money, but more particularly with the overwhelming majority of you who don't.

‘I recognize that the many proclamations from State capitols and from Washington, the legislation, the Treasury regulations, and so forth, couched for the most part in banking and legal terms, ought to be explained for the benefit of the average citizen.

‘What, then, happened during the last few days? Because of the undermined confidence on the part of the public, there was a general trend by a large portion of our population to hold on to and even to hoard their money, a trend so great that no one could get enough currency to meet the demand. People were afraid that they would not be able to get cash when they wanted it. Things appeared desperate. We lost our faith in money.

‘It was then that I issued the proclamation temporarily halting transactions involving cash at all banks in the country. This proclamation was not made to combat a problem within our banks, or our economy. This proclamation was made to combat a problem within the soul of our nation: fear.

‘The banks will reopen tomorrow. Get out whatever money you feel you need to interact in our society. Let me make it clear to you that the banks will take care of all needs, except, of course, the hysterical demands of money hoarders, and it is my belief that money hoarding during the past week has become an exceedingly unfashionable pastime. New currency has been, and continues to be, sent out by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in large volumes to banks in every part of the country. It isn't money because I say it is; it’s because you say it is.

‘It’s worth just as much as it always has been, and to prove it, I want to also take this opportunity to announce that the government of the United States of America is embarking a new era of space exploration. We are sending a manned mission to the largest planet in the solar system to investigate the path the Aliens seem to be taking to get here. We may even be able to follow them back to their planet, and show them that we, too, are a space-faring people. That’s right: we're going to Jupiter, baby!

‘Confidence and courage are the essentials of success in carrying out our plan. You people must have confidence; you must not be stampeded by rumors or guesses. Let us unite in banishing fear. We have provided the machinery to restore our financial system, and to reach for the stars, and it is up to you to trust it. It is your problem my friends, your problem no less than it is mine. Together we cannot fail.’