Oppositions to the First New Deal

Oppositions to the First New Deal

1. Francis Townsend

   • Was a retired doctor from California and opposed the First New Deal Policies.
   • Supported the idea of federal funded old-age pensions as a way of stimulating demand in the economy
   • Under his plan everyone over 60 years would receive a federal pension of $200 per month.
   • By 1935, 500,000 people joined 'Townsend Clubs' across USA (in support of his plan)
   • Associated with the Social Security Act.

2. Huey Long

   • 'Share our wealth' programme (private property over $3 million would be confiscated)
   • House, car, radio for every family
   • Old age pensions, minimum wage: $2,000-$3,000 per year.
   • Free college education
   • 4.6 million members of 'share our wealth' clubs.
     • 'TAX THE RICH+ HELP THE POOR'
     • Huey Long associated with the Revenue Act

3. Robert Wagner

   • Proposed the Labor relations Act.
   • Born out of disappointment of the Labor board set up under the National Recovery Administration. (Section 7a of the National Industrial Recovery Act 1933.
   • Obliged management to engage in good faith collective bargaining with workers.
   • However some argued that this led to too much power developing in the large unions who did not always have regard for the individual.
   • In May 1935, Supreme Court declared Section 7a unconstitutional.