Dr. Francis Townsend: Biography

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Dr.

Francis Townsend
Biography:

Francis Everett
Townsend was born on
January 13, 1867
in
Fairbury, Illinois. His
family moved to Nebraska
where he attended
Franklin Academy. Soon
he moved to
California
to take advantage of the
land boom
and prosper.
However, he was
not able
to find wealth and
rather found more
poverty
. After a couple
years of struggling, he
attended the Omaha
Medical College, where
he graduated in 1907.
During World War I, he
served in the Army
Medical Corps
and soon
after, married the nurse
Minnie Bogue. After the
war was over, he moved to
Long Beach, California,
where he obtained the job
of the
assistant city
health director:
When
the Great Depression hit,

he
lost his job and
wanted to retire.
Criticism:

Believing that his plan


would
ignite the
economy
and
save the
country
from the Great
Depression, Townsend
advocated against the
New Deal and for the
Townsend Plan
. This plan
included the idea of
old
age revolving pension.
Every American over the
age 60 would retire in
order to open up job
availability for
younger workers.
To
ensure the protection of
the retired members of
society, these members
would receive a
monthly
check of a sizable
amount.
His idea was
intended to get rid of or
at least
reduce poverty
among the elderly
to
increase consumer
spending
and therefore,
pull the country out of
the severe depression.
This would create a
proper pension plan
for

those who have worked


hard at their work. By
1935, the Townsend Plan
had gained a
significant
amount of supporters.
There were enough
supporters to where
Roosevelt was
informally forced to
pass the
social security
legislation
that would
serve to provide some
benefits to the elderly.
What became of the critic:

After the enactment of


the social security
legislation in the
Social Security Act of
1935
, the Townsend
message
grew stronger
and more power
ful as
more supporters wanted
higher benefits for the
elderly
. Because his of
resistance towards
answering to the
congressional
committee, Townsend was
sentenced to 30 days in
jail.
However, President
Franklin Roosevelt
noted the dangers of
putting such a
popular

activist in prison
and
granted him an
unsolicited pardon
.
Francis Townsend
continued to advocate
for the elderly and his
pension plan until the
day he passed away.
His
plan faded away
after the
post World War II
prosperity began.
Improvements in pension
benefits and the social
well-being of America
covered his message. He
passed away shortly
after, on September 1,
1960.

Fr. Charles Coughlin


Biography:

Francis Everett
Townsend was born on
January 13, 1867
in
Fairbury, Illinois. His
family moved to Nebraska
where he attended
Franklin Academy. Soon
he moved to
California
to take advantage of the
land boom
and prosper.

However, he was
not able
to find wealth and
rather found more
poverty
. After a couple
years of struggling, he
attended the Omaha
Medical College, where
he graduated in 1907.
During World War I, he
served in the Army
Medical Corps
and soon
after, married the nurse
Minnie Bogue. After the
war was over, he moved to
Long Beach, California,
where he obtained the job
of the
assistant city
health director:
When
the Great Depression hit,
he
lost his job and
wanted to retire.
Criticism:

Believing that his plan


would
ignite the
economy
and
save the
country
from the Great
Depression, Townsend
advocated against the
New Deal and for the
Townsend Plan
. This plan
included the idea of
old
age revolving pension.
Every American over the

age 60 would retire in


order to open up job
availability for
younger workers.
To
ensure the protection of
the retired members of
society, these members
would receive a
monthly
check of a sizable
amount.
His idea was
intended to get rid of or
at least
reduce poverty
among the elderly
to
increase consumer
spending
and therefore,
pull the country out of
the severe depression.
This would create a
proper pension plan
for
those who have worked
hard at their work. By
1935, the Townsend Plan
had gained a
significant
amount of supporters.
There were enough
supporters to where
Roosevelt was
informally forced to
pass the
social security
legislation
that would
serve to provide some
benefits to the elderly.

What became of the critic:

After the enactment of


the social security
legislation in the
Social Security Act of
1935
, the Townsend
message
grew stronger
and more power
ful as
more supporters wanted
higher benefits for the
elderly
. Because his of
resistance towards
answering to the
congressional
committee, Townsend was
sentenced to 30 days in
jail.
However, President
Franklin Roosevelt
noted the dangers of
putting such a
popular
activist in prison
and
granted him an
unsolicited pardon
.
Francis Townsend
continued to advocate
for the elderly and his
pension plan until the
day he passed away.
His
plan faded away
after the
post World War II
prosperity began.
Improvements in pension
benefits and the social

well-being of America
covered his message. He
passed away shortly
after, on September 1,
1960.

Senator Huey Long


Biography:

Huey Long was born on


August 30, 1893
, close to
Winnfield to a middle
class family. He
developed as an
intelligent student and
was known for his
sharp
memory
. He was granted a
debate scholarship
at
Louisiana State
University, However, he
was not able to attend
because of the
high cost
of the materials
required
. He then spent 5
years as a traveling
salesman and then
married Rose McConnell
in 1913. Having an
inclination towards
Law, Long attended the
Oklahoma College of Law
and Tulane University

Law School. He
developed
his skills in law
and
soon opened up his own
practice. While creating
his reputation as a
renowned lawyer,
he took
up cases and assisted in
the well being of many. A
case that he gained a lot
of fame for was against
the
Standard Oil
Company
, where he
accused them of
unfair
business practices
as
well as
exploitation of
gas and oil resources.
Criticism:

Originally, Huey Long


supported President
Frederick Roosevelt
in
the election of 1932.
However, after the
established of the New
Deal, he began a
critic
of
the plan, stating that
the plan was
too
conservative.
Long
started the movement
called
Share our
Wealth
in 1934.
The
purpose of the movement
was
new wealth
redistribution
and

operated under the


slogan/motto
Every Man
a King.
Longs plan was
based on his belief that
federal spending
on
public works and schools
as well as
improvement
in old age pensions
would stimulate the
economy and help the
country to recover out
of the Great Depression.
For example, a part of
his plan included that
lowest economic group
would receive an
income
of 2500 dollars
annually
as well as an small
estate. His influence as
an Lousiana State
Senator lasted through
his actions of help
public schools and the
general welfare.
What became of the critic:

Huey long was


originally a supporter
of Franklin Roosevelt
during his first
election in 1932.
However, as his message
gained a
large amount of
supporters,
the

Democratic Party was


afraid
of the outcome of
the election of 1936 if
Long ran for presidency.
They were afraid that
Longs cause would take
over the votes of FDR.
This was a common fear as
Long was allies with
priest and influential
radio commentator,
Charles Coughlin.
However, Long was
assassinated in 1935
.
After the assassination,
Huey Longs
movement
faded away
, with parts of
it remaining in action
through the legacy
continued by
his wife
and son
. To this day,
there is still
controversy over his
influential position
because of his actions as
Senator of Louisiana and
his strong minded
mindset.

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