Critics and Crackpots of the New Deal

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Critics and Crackpots of the New Deal

• People were frustrated that the New Deal wasnt
  helping them fast enough or at all.
• They proposed alternatives that appealed to many.
• FDR moved to adopt some of those ideas and
  incorporate them into his New Deal.
• As the election of 1936 loomed, FDR needed to do
  more or face defeat at the polls in 1936.
• It is easy to be a Monday morning Quarterback
  when you arent in power.

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Huey Long
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Share the Wealth

• Long promised to make every man a King.
• He proposed to tax the wealthy to pay the poor
• 5,000 to married men and 2500 to single men.
• Called a latter day Robin Hood

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Old Doc Townsend
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Old Age Pensions

• Dr. Townsend proposed a 200/mo. pension to every
  senior citizen.
• Senior citizens had lost everything in the
  collapse of the economy.
• Proposed a small usage tax to fund it.

• Seniors would not receive their next months check
  until they proved they had spent the previous
  months money.
• Townsend wanted old people to become consumers in
  the economy.

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Microphone Messiah
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The Radio Priest

• Father Charles became very popular on the
  nationwide radio
• He took turns praising and criticizing the New
  Deal.
• He also began to praise the principles of Adolf
  Hitler and the Nazis.
• Father Charles was pulled from the radio by the
  Church by 1940.

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Nine Old Men
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FDR battles the Court

• FDR was furious that the Court declared the AAA
  and NRA unconstitutional.
• He believed their conservative views would hurt
  the ability of the New Deal to succeed.

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Father time un-packed the Court

• Congress refused to grant the law that would
  enable FDR to appoint a new judge for everyone
  over the age of 70 who would not resign
• Critics of FDR claimed it was his way of
  controlling all 3 Branches of the Government.
• Dictatorships in Europe were examples of a new
  trend in power and many believed the US was no
  place for a Dictator.

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Impact on the New Deal

• Congress moves to curb FDRs power (Hatch Act
  -1939)
• Funding to New Deal agencies is cut
• Roosevelt Recession occurs in 1937 due cuts in
  funding of programs.
• Election of 1940

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The New Deal evolves to meet new challenges

• After 1939, New Deal agencies (WPA) to construct
  coastal fortifications.
• As the world sinks into war, the US preps for
  defense against attack.