 People were frustrated that the New Deal wasn’t 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  It is easy to be a “Monday morning Quarterback” when you aren’t in power….

 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”

 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….

 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 Nazi’s.  Father Charles was “pulled” from the radio by the Church by 1940.

 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.

 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.

 Congress moves to curb FDR’s 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…

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