Fisher said Fed actions prevented worse U.S. slump

LUBBOCK, Texas (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve's aggressive actions through the long financial crisis have prevented the U.S. economic downturn from becoming even worse, a top Fed policy-maker said on Tuesday.

Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Richard Fisher said the central bank, under the stewardship of Chairman Ben Bernanke, had not repeated mistakes made during the Great Depression in letting conditions get out of hand.

"I'm hesitant to find fault," Fisher said in response to a question from the audience after a speech. "The patient was on the table, and there was no blood supply."

(Reporting by Ros Krasny)