Mr. Pettit APUSH THE NEW DEAL: THE CRITICS FDR successfully created a “political revolution” based around the New Deal. With so many new government agencies, the charisma and optimism Roosevelt brought to the White House became evident in every facet of the bureaucracy that is Washington, D.C. This can be defined as, “The New Deal Spirit.” The Critics: 1, Huey Long § Known as “The Kingfish” § Louisiana governor and U.S. Senator. § Wanted to win the presidency due to frustration with FDR’s bureaucracy, and the notion that the government needed to address the Depression more aggressively. § “the smartest lunatic I ever saw.” § Supported the New Deal at first. § “Share Our Wealth” movement gained 4.6 million followers by 1935. § Had a Robin Hood-­‐like philosophy which was based on taking money from the rich and redistributing it to the poor. 2. Father Charles Coughlin § “The Radio Priest” § Like Long, first supported the New Deal. § Gained a very wide audience due to his radio broadcasts. § Felt inflation could end the Depression. § Anti-­‐bank; wanted a more aggressive stance against the financial sectors. 3. Dr. Francis Townsend § Advocate for the elderly. § Wanted to give a 200$/month pension to everyone 60 and over, as long as they had no job, and spent the entire pension in 30 days. § He felt this would stimulate the economy § Hoped to fund his program through commodities tax. § His popularity helps to represent the importance of the elderly influence upon politics. These critics hoped to cause enough influence to push FDR out of the presidency in 1936. However, Long was killed by an assassin in 1935, and his successor failed to capture the same support and enthusiasm as long. Townsend and Coughlin supported a third party candidate but failed to provide wider appeal. Roosevelt won easily in 1936, taking every state in the Union except Maine and Vermont. Democratic representation also increased in the House and Senate.