The Second New Deal

The Election of 1936 There is a shift in the 1936 election. Many Southern whites and African Americans, along women, new immigrants and intellectuals were now firmly behind Roosevelt. Mrs. Roosevelt recognized this while touring the country and persuaded FDR to address the problems of women and African Americans in his New Deal programs.

The Black Cabinet Roosevelt appointed a number of African Americans to positions in his administration, which came to be known as the *Black Cabinet, and tried to see that New Deal relief programs did not exclude African Americans. Women also gained new positions as well. *Francis Perkins became the first woman appointed to a Cabinet position.

1936 Elections Alfred Landon, Republican presidential candidate, 1936 Roosevelt easily defeats Alfred Landon in the largest landslide victory in American history, winning over 60% of the popular vote and every state except Maine and Vermont. Whistlestop. During the 1936 presidential race, Republican candidate Alfred M. Landon addressed an Iowa crowd from the back of his campaign train. National Archives.

1936 Elections > Gallup predicts FDR will be reelected 1936 - President Roosevelt was re-elected with 61% of the vote. Gallup had predicted a Roosevelt victory with 54% of the vote. The Literary Digest had predicted Roosevelt would lose badly to the Republican nominee, Alf Landon.

The Second New Deal Works Progress Administration poster

The Second New Deal National Youth Administration center, Detroit, MI, 1936 Camera Shy. Outside a Detroit, Michigan, National Youth Administration training center. National Archives.

1936 Elections > Literary Digest and Gallup polls Literary Digest Final Poll Landon 57% Roosevelt 43 States for Landon 32 States for FDR 16 A.I.P.O. (Gallup) Final Poll Roosevelt 55.7% Landon 44.3 States for FDR 40 States for Landon 6 On the line 2 Election Results Roosevelt 61% Landon 49% States for FDR 46 States for Landon 2 January 1936 Gallup Poll By Income Roosevelt Landon Upper third 41% 59% Lower third 70 30 Reliefers 82 18 October 1936 Gallup Poll Farmers Roosevelt 52.6% Landon 42.1% Women Roosevelt 51.4% Landon 44.8% Young People (21–24 Years) Roosevelt 57.4% Landon 38.4% Reliefers Roosevelt 78.8% Landon 14.0% 1936 - President Roosevelt was re-elected with 61% of the vote. Gallup had predicted a Roosevelt victory with 54% of the vote. The Literary Digest had predicted Roosevelt would lose badly to the Republican nominee, Alf Landon.

1936 Elections > Percentage vote for Roosevelt in black districts, 1932 and 1936 This table, which was developed by historian Nancy Weiss, shows the dramatic change in black voting patterns between 1932 and 1936. Weiss compiled data on voting in precincts that were predominantly black, which she defined as having a black population of 90 percent or greater in 1940. Percentage Vote for Roosevelt in Black Districts, 1932 and 1936

The Court-Packing Plan Early in the year 1936, he asked Congress to pass the Judiciary Reorganization Bill of 1937. That proposal would have given the president the power to appoint a new justice whenever an existing judge reached the age of 70 and failed to retire within six months. In that way Roosevelt hoped to preserve the New Deal legislation. But he had stirred up a hornet`s nest since many congressmen feared he might start to retire them at 70 next. Many congressmen considered the proposal unconstitutional. In the end the proposal failed. Roosevelt received a great deal of criticism for the court-packing plan.

Court Packing > “Fall In!,” Richmond Times Dispatch, 1937

Court Packing > “He Just Ain’t Fast Enough,” Brooklyn Citizen, 1937 2/9/37 By Homan in the Brooklyn Citizen

Court Packing > “Step by Step,” Buffalo News, 1937 2/11/37 By Warren in the Buffalo News

New Deal > Anti-Roosevelt cartoon, 1938 "We Have Driven the Money-Changers from the Temple." During the 1938 presidential campaign, conservative cartoonist Herbert Johnson portrayed the largesse offered by New Deal social programs as a corruption of the democratic process. Herbert Johnson, Saturday Evening Post, November 5, 1938—Reprinted from The Saturday Evening Post © 1938.

The Last New Deal Reforms The National Housing Act-established the United States Housing Authority, which was designed to eliminate slums and replace them with low-cost housing. The Farm Security Administration-created to give loans to tenant farmers, who had lost their land because of a cut in production, so they could purchase farms. The Fair Labor Standards Act-

The Last New Deal Reforms Cont. The Fair Labor Standards Act-provided more protection for workers, abolished child labor and established a 40-hour work wee for many workers. By the 1939 the New Deal had ended because of a pushback from Congress, but Roosevelt was distracted by the international threat posed by Japan and the rise of Hitler in Germany.