WW2 quite literally destroyed the excess productive capacity of much of the civilized world. World war is of a painful way to end a world-wide recession if you ask me. But all of the major world leaders throughout the ‘30’s were some sort of socialist — I include FDR, BTW.
I’m not advocating war as a way to end recessions. My main point is that the New Deal sure didn’t end one and instead worsened and prolonged one, contrary to what Professor Blowhard from the story implies.