 Who were some of FDR’s largest critics? Why did FDR try to reorganize the judiciary?

 Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States ◦ Sick chicken case  Court ruled that the NIRA was unconstitutional because: 1.Gave legislative powers to executive branch 2.Some of the industry codes covered business that took place in a state, whereas the fed gov’t has power to regulate commerce between states only

 Passed after provisions of NIRA declared unconstitutional.  Instead of supporting businesses, government was now on the side of the unions  Employers had to bargain with workers  Established unfair labor practices – threatening workers, firing non union members

 United States v. Butler  Processing tax out of which farmers were paid to restrict production was not a tax at all  Way of regulating agriculture ◦ Went beyond proper power of Congress

 If 2/3 of the farmers in a district agreed, each would be given a quota of acres to plant staple crops  Surpluses were no longer destroyed, it would be put in storage and $$ was lent to the farmer for living expenses.  Gave farmers same purchasing power as farmers had between

 Claimed the New Deal was unconstitutional and FDR was heading towards a dictatorship  Most members = rich industrialists  Alfred Smith was a member – Hoover refused to join  Called FDR a traitor to his class

 New Deal not doing enough  I, Governor of California, and How I Ended Poverty (1930)  Ran for governor of Cali in 1934 ◦ Caused Republicans to use a public relations firm as a means to win the election  now standard practice

 came up with a plan that would pay everyone over 60 yrs. $200 a month ◦ They must spend that within 30 days ◦ Keep $$ circulating and keep business healthy  Attracted 20 million to join his organization – failed to last or achieve much

 Catholic Priest  Delivered Sunday sermons via radio – reached millions  Shift from religious issues to political and social issues  Originally supported FDR  Became obvious he was anti-Semitic, & supported Hitler  Catholic Church made him stop broadcasting

 Senator from Louisiana  Very energetic speaker  Gave University funds for the Sugar Bowl stadium  “Share the Wealth” - $5,000 guaranteed income for every family ◦ Funded by taking over wealth of millionaires, dividing up natural resources and land  Killed  FDR’s greatest political threat

 FDR v. Alfred Landon  Roosevelt won in a greater landslide ◦ Electoral vote was 523 to 8  First election where the unions gave full support to a single candidate  First time candidates campaigned from an airplane

 Asked Congress to reorganize the judiciary  Said that if the justices did not retire w/in 6 months of turning 70, the President should have power to appoint additional judges  Supreme Court=6 justices over 70  FDR had not yet appointed a justice and felt the Court was too conservative w/rulings on AAA, NIRA.

 Idea criticized by Congress and press  Called the bill the Court-Packing Bill ◦ Fill SC w/justices supporting New Deal  Bill never passed Congress, BUT… 1. 2 justices changed votes in favor for fed gov’t to regulate economy 2. Conservative justice retired 3. Roosevelt appointed 7 justices over next 4 yrs

 More conservatives elected to Congress  No more new Deal Legislation passed = New Deal is over