Notes CH 33 Part 2 From 785 “a day for every demagogue”
Demagogue- “ emotive – popular leader which promotes an emotional/passionate response to
issues”*** Huey Long-Father Charles Coughlin—Dr. Charles Townsend—Upton Sinclair
A Day for Every Demagogue
Direct relief $$$ from DC (Federal Government) to needy families helped pull the nation through the
tough winter of 1934-35—
BUT—problems persisted---there was no “MIRACLE” THAT MADE THE GREAT DEPRESSION VANISH--NOT EVEN THE “NEW DEAL.”********
Unemployment and suffering for many continued:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HADGKw_wa5E
This is Danny Glover (movie star  ) reading Langston Hughes Poem “Ballad of Roosevelt” published in
1934--At this point FDR and Congress had a decision to make--- Should they increase the help from the
government—create new programs—relief, reform, recovery MORE--- OR ---cut back ????
****Was the President, after two years, acting as boldly as possible or not boldly enough?
DANGER SIGNS:
Demagogue’s appearing***definition at the top***
1- Father Charles Coughlin- The “Microphone Messiah” – ( Like Rush Limbaugh –Glenn Beck –Fox
News- today) One of the first political-religious leaders to use the radio to reach a mass audience-a catholic priest from Michigan who began broadcasting a radio show in 1930—his slogan was –
“Social Justice” –He turns on FDR and becomes anti-new deal, in 1934, and pro-Fascist (Nazi) who
finally became so anti-Semitic (anti – Jewish) that he was excommunicated and silenced by the
Catholic Church in 1942---BUT he had a big audience--- some 40 million listeners and his ideas
were actually very socialistic--- remember the Nazi Party –was “National Socialism” 
2- Senator Huey P. Long- “The Kingfish” – Former Governor of Louisiana- Senator who proposes
the Share our Wealth program---“Every Man a King” – Long proposed Federal Legislation
CAPPING personal fortunes, incomes, and inheritances—he opposed the Federal Reserve System –
and his plan—“Share our Wealth” – The “Long” plan for redistribution of wealth—capping
personal fortunes at 50 million$$$ and a TAX ON FORTUNES ABOVE 1 MILLION—1% on 1 million
and all the way up to 100% tax on 100 million--- a 100% tax on incomes over 1million—a 100%
tax on inheritances over 5 million. THE $$$ TAKEN FROM THE WEALTHY WOULD BE
DISTRIBUTED TO EVERY FAMILY –5000$ PER HOUSEHOLD –AND A MINIMUM YEARLY INCOME
OF 3000$ (do the inflation calculator on these two (2) #’s to see how much this would be today???
Free College Education or Vocational Education, old-age pensions—veteran’s benefits, assistance
to Farmers, 1-Month vacation PAID for every worker, and a 30 hour guaranteed work week. The
Share our Wealth Society had over 7.5 million members and 27,000 clubs nationwide—Long
proposed to run against FDR in 1936 for the Democratic Party nomination—He is
assassinated in September 1935, however, in Baton Rouge----before he could mount a
challenge--- MANY HISTORIANS CLAIME HE WAS EASILY THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN
AMERICA---WITH THE SUPPORT OF MILLIONS---********
“What's Morgan and Baruch and Rockefeller and Mellon gonna do with all that grub? They can't eat
it. They can't wear the clothes. They can't live in the house… But when they've got everything on the
God-slaving earth that they can eat and they can wear and they can live in — and all that their
children can live in and wear and eat and all their children's children can use — then we've got to call
Mr. Morgan and Mr. Mellon and Mr. Rockefeller back and say, 'Come back here. Put that stuff back
on this table that you took away from here that you don't need. Leave something else for the
American people to consume." HUEY LONG (1934) Barbecue Speech
“We do not propose to say that there shall be no rich men. We do not ask to divide the wealth.
We only propose that, when one man gets more than he and his children and children's
children can spend or use in their lifetimes, that then we shall say that such person has his
share. That means that a few million dollars is the limit to what any one man can own." –
HUEY LONG (1934) Share Our Wealth radio address
3- Dr. Francis E. Townsend of California – proposes “The Townsend Plan” for old-age
pensions—His plan had supporters across America—This plan was published in a
newspaper in California in 1933—“The Old Age Revolving Pension Plan—The Government
would provide a pension of 200$ a month (use the inflation calculator  ) to every citizen age 60
or older—paid for by a 2% transaction tax nationally—to be eligible a person had to be: retired,
not a criminal, and ALL OF THE $ HAD TO SPENT EACH MONTH. THE PLAN PROVED TO BE SO
POPULAR THAT Dr. Townsend was invited to speak to Congress in 1936—56% of Americans
supported the plan in a valid poll. (Average pay for those working at this point was 100$ a month)
This is also due to the requirement that the 200$ be spent each month a great example of “bubble
up” economics****Called the “multiplier effect” in economics***THIS FORCES CONGRESS AND
FDR TO STUDY AND PASS THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT IN 1935****
4- Upton Sinclair – The EPIC (end poverty in California) Campaign for Governor of California—
1934—Nearly 30 years after he published the incredibly significant novel, “The Jungle,”
Sinclair ran for Governor of California –his plan—EPIC –and his campaign was groundbreaking—
beginning the first mass “grassroots” political movement—His failure in winning was OK—it was
vey close—but a “dirty tricks” campaign with lies consistently published in Hearst Newspapers
made it almost impossible to overcome—the Rich stopped Sinclair—BUT HIS IDEAS HAVE
TREMENDOUS INFLUENCE IN THE “NEW DEAL 2” –WPA and NLRA are seen as copies of his
ideas---and influenced FDR greatly 
What was FDR to do-- ??—there were many critics and many crazy schemes--- Congress and FDR got
back to work---THE PROGRAMS OF THE NEW DEAL 2 ARE HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY THE PEOPLE AND
ORGANIZATIONS MENTIONED ABOVE---- THEY PUSH CONGRESS AND FDR TO CONTIUE TO WORK FOR
THE “FORGOTTEN PEOPLE” IN SOCIETY*************
WPA- Works Progress Administration – 1935 –objective was employment on useful projects—Harry
Hopkins again is put in charge  -- This agency spent $11 Billion—on Public Buildings ( WPA Murals –
one is in the Mooresville Graded School District Building –the Old Post Office)**For XC get a picture and
describe the mural—then send it to me***) bridges, roads, part-time work for high school and college
students, actors, musicians, writers, artists--- over 1 million pieces of art were created—the Oral History
Project at UNC-Chapel Hill recorded interviews with former slaves and many others—They recorded old
folk music in Appalachia--- wrote and performed plays--- THIS PROGRAM IS STILL INFLUENTIAL TODAY
IN THAT THE VARIOUS “WORKS” CREATED BY THESE PEOPLE ALLOW US TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
AMERICA, FOR SURE—9 MILLION PEOPLE WORKED FOR WPA PROJECTS—EASILY ONE OF THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT OF ALL NEW DEAL AGENCIES*******************************************************
A Helping Hand for Industry and Labor
NRA – National Recovery Administration – PWA – Public Works Administration – both of these
agencies are created from the NIRA (national industrial recovery act) ACT passed in the first 100
days—by far the MOST COMPLEX AND FAR-REACHING EFFORT OF THE NEW DEAL*************
THE NRA-Was designed to assist industry, labor, and the unemployed—each individual “industry” over
200 were to create codes of “fair competition” so that hours would be reduced so that more people could
be employed—a “ceiling” was placed on the maximum HOURS a person could work in each
industry—and a “floor” was placed on WAGES (minimum-wage) in each industry.-- LABOR was given
the right to “Collectively Bargain” through representatives of their own choosing—and Child Labor
was FORBIDDEN—The symbol of the NRA was a BLUE EAGLE and businesses that supported this
program put this in their windows—“We do our Part”—(The new Philadelphia Eagles NFL Team is
named for this program)
**************** HUGE********THE CONSERVATIVE SUPREME COURT BEGINS TO AXE NEW DEAL
PROGRAMS****************************IN 1935 the Supreme Court ruled parts of the NRA program
unconstitutional in the SCHECTER ‘SICK CHICKEN’ CASE—Schecter Poultry Corp. v. US (1935) – The
Price and Wage fixing, max work hours, and rights of unions to organize aspects of the NIRA were ruled
unconstitutional due to the President using powers assigned constitutionally to Congress & attempting to
regulate a business that did not do inter-state commerce (the only businesses the federal govt can regulate)
– that Congress can not set max hours and set minimum wages on a business that does not participate in
inter-state commerce, thus a violation of the commerce clause. SO THE “CODES OF FAIR COMPETITON”
CREATED WITHIN 200 INDUSTRIES WERE INVALIDATED.
FDR’S REACTION TO THE SUPREME COURT***
He was upset---very upset---and WILL RESPOND AFTER MORE PROGRAMS ARE RULED
UNCONSTITUTIONAL ***PAY ATTENTION
The Supreme Court had ruled part of the NIRA unconstitutional BUT NOT ALL---IT ALSO CREATED
THE PWA-its purpose was intended for industrial recovery and unemployment relief with its PRIMARY
PURPOSE TO BE LONG-RANGE RECOVERY—led by Harold W. Ickes—a former Bull-Moose Progressive—
Six (6) Billion Dollars$$$ was invested in this program—The PWA was a large-scale public works
construction agency –it built dams, bridges, hospitals, airports, warships, streets-highways, public
housing projects, and schools—it spent 3.3 billion in the first year-WOW--- the $$$ was paid to private
construction companies that actually did the work and hired mostly skilled workers and built an
infrastructure that we still use today—34,000 projects were completed and for every worker employed
privately 2 more additional workers were hired indirectly due to the project--- the “multiplier effect” in
action—Harold Ickes also mandated the hiring of a % (quota) of skilled and unskilled blacks in
construction projects which were funded by the PWA – ONE OF THE FIRST ACTIONS OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO FORCE A CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE  Some of the famous structures built by the PWA
were: The Grand Coulee Dam –“the largest structure erected by humans since the Great Wall of China—
on the Columbia River in Oregon—The Lincoln Tunnel under the Hudson River in NYC—The “Overseas
Highway” connecting Miami to Key West—
The 18th Amendment is repealed by the 21st Amendment*** ending prohibition 
Increased Federal Revenue (excise taxes—remember the “Whiskey Rebellion” during GW’s Presidency)
Increased employment in the liquor industry
The 100 days Congress first legislates an ok for Beer and Wine and then late in 1933 PROHIBITION WAS
COMPLETELY REPEALED BY THE 21ST AMENDMENT –JOY FOR SOME 
Paying Farmers Not to Farm*****”This is one reason why the Great Depression is called “THE
PLAGUE OF PLENTY”************* a juxtaposition—huge surpluses and many deaths due to
starvation****Shocked many**** BUT FARM INCOME ROSE BY 50% BY 1935***
******There are two (2) great visuals that deal with farmers – a brown box from John Steinbeck on
p. 788 in the digital edition & a Map of the “Dust Bowl” on p. 789 in the digital edition***look at
these, please*******
THE AAA-****(1ST) [1933 1st 100 days] --THERE WILL BE A 2ND AAA ****[1938 new deal 2]
Remember that since the end of WWI the farmers had been struggling with low prices and
overproduction**** The depression began in the Agricultural sector 1st**** (see graph on p. 788 in the
digital edition which lists farm foreclosures and defaults) You can see how the New Deal really helped
farmers 
Farmers got crushed—farmers destroyed crops in an attempt to lower supply and raise prices—1 in 3
farms were lost to debt—The 1st 100 days Congress as part of the New Deal 1---created the AAA – Which
we have already seen helped farmers with re-financing their farm loans—ALSO –PAID FARMERS NOT TO
FARM and Kill off excess livestock???—Creating “artificial scarcity” and establishing “parity prices”
for farm products… the price was set on farm products that was tied the products price between
1909 -1914—a period of decent prices—to do this they paid farmers to reduce the # of acres
cultivated—The $$$ to pay farmers was to come from taxing “processors” of farm products who
would then raise prices to consumers to recoup the cost.
PROBLEMS WITH THE 1ST AAA-****
1- it increased unemployment—especially in the South when the huge # of “sharecroppers” were
pushed off land so that the owners could PROFIT—A LOT OF RACIST ACTIONS HERE****
2- People were starving while food was being destroyed
3- Consumer Prices for food went up
4- Processors had to pay a tax
The Conservative Supreme Court AXE chops another program down –the AAA
The Supreme Court in the case: Butler v. USA, 1936 – ruled the taxing provision unconstitutional –
regulation of Agriculture was a State Power—a violation of the 10th Amendment—BUT did say that the
US government could tax for the “general welfare” of all citizens. This is key to the success of the
AAA #2  - which is paid for out of GOVT $$$ and not a tax on processors---keeping the ideas of
“artificial scarcity” and “parity prices” -- $$$ to farmers not to farm—limit acreage in cultivation—
WE STILL HAVE THESE PROGRAMS TODAY***FARM SUBSIDIES ARE HUGE***
Dust Bowls and Black Blizzards (still farmers and the West)
NATURE CAN BE UGLY. Late in 1933 a massive DROUGHT struck the trans-Mississippi Great Plains—
Rainless conditions were followed by High-winds—MIILLIONS OF TONS OF TOPSOIL WAS THROWN
INTO THE ATMOSPHERE---from eastern Colorado to western Missouri –People had to wear protective
masks –MANY PREDICTED THE END OF THE WORLD “ARMAGGEDON” HUGE SWARMS OF
GRASSHOPPERS ATE EVERYTHING THAT WAS NOT COVERED IN DUST—IT WAS AN EMERGENCY OF
“BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS” –IT WAS SO BAD THAT THE SUN WAS BLACKENED IN NYC 
EFFECTS:
Hundreds of thousands—had to leave their farms—in 5 years over 350,000 left just Arkansas and
Oklahoma—called “Arkies” and “Okies” and went to Southern California looking for a new start—and
carried everything they owned on their “Black Model-T’s” (Beverly Hillbillies TV show –at the beginning
shows it—they supposedly however struck it rich with oil—the opposite of these down and out farmers)
John Steinbeck’s Book – Movie, “Grapes of Wrath (1939),” tells this story as well as any source—it is
amazing**
Makers of America: The Dust Bowl MigrantsThe Farmers in the Trans-Mississippi Great Plains were already struggling—the Great Depression begins
around 1920 in Agriculture—and in the 1930’s IT GOT WORSE. Eastern Colorado-Northern TexasKansas- Oklahoma- Arkansas- and Western Missouri BECAME A “DUST BOWL.”
Most farmers headed to California to attempt to start over—any way they could get there—California
was seen as the land of great promises*** more than a MILLION PEOPLE had already left before the dust
bowl began in the 1930’s—and they told those who held out stories of Wonder and Plenty**
HOWEVER—for those who left during the dust bowl there was an ominous sign posted at the California
State line that read,”NO JOBS IN CALIFORNIA—IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR WORK –KEEP OUT”*********
MOST JUST KEPT GOING (IF THEY COULD MANY COMMUNITIES AFTER THE SIGNS IN CALIFORNIA
POSTED 24 HOUR GUARDS WITH GUNS TO KEEP VAGRANTS OUT***To those who did make it through—
most settled in southern California in the San Joaquin Valley—most were still in poverty through 1940***
Food, Clothing, and Shelter were scarce—
Steinbeck-“First the gasoline gives out. And without gasoline a man cannot go to a job even if he
could get one. Then the food goes. And then in the rains, with insufficient food, the children develop
colds.”
Eventually the Farm Security Administration set up camps to house the “Okies” –During WWII most
escaped the depravation and uncertainty of seasonal farm labor by getting jobs in the HUGE # OF
DEFENSE INDUSTRIES THAT WERE BUILT IN CALIFORNIA AND THE WEST GENERALLY***(this WWII
building of Defense plants transforms the west dramatically****)
The Dust Bowl migrants lingered in California and impacted it culturally bringing Country music, pecan
pie, and evangelical protestant to the Far West. (many African-Americans move from the South to the
FAR West during WWII – an even larger great migration than during WWI for the same jobs in defense
industries and due to the loss of sharecropping opportunities due to the AAA $$$ )
The New Dealers were sympathetic to the difficult plight of farmers—passing the Frazier-Lemke
Farm Bankruptcy Act, 1934 – which suspended foreclosures for five years---BUT the CONSERVATIVE
Supreme Court ruled this act unconstitutional in 1935***the AXE falls again*****#3 so far****
The Resettlement Administration is created by Congress in 1935 to move poor farmers to better
land—and TREE BARRIERS WERE PLANTED ACROSS AMERICA *** YOU CAN STILL SEE THEM
TODAY*** TO PREVENT THE TOP-SOIL FROM BLOWING OFF THE FARMS—THE CCC PLANTED OVER
300 MILLION YOUNG TREES ACROSS AMERICA***
************************ Huge************NATIVE AMERICANS WERE ALSO HELPED IN 1934 BY THE
INDIAN REORGANIZATION ACT—(****CALLED THE INDIAN NEW DEAL*****) Commissioner of Indian
Affairs, John Collier, sought to REVERSE THE “FORCED ASSIMILATION” POLICIES OF THE DAWES
SEVERALTY ACT OF 1887*************HUGE*********** The new law promoted and encouraged Tribes
to establish “local self-government” and to preserve their native crafts and traditions (dramatic
departure from the Dawes act which tried to make Indians into white Christian farmers—“the only
good Indian is a dead Indian) This act also stopped the loss of lands and revived Tribes interest in their
identity and culture---over 200 tribes take advantage of this “Indian New Deal” and set up Tribal
Governments –some 77 do not and considered this to be an attempt to de-modernize and marginalize
their progress
Battling Bankers and Big Business
In the 100 days Congress they attack the “money changers” that caused this whole mess****
Passing the “Truth in Securities Act, 1933- (federal securities act) – which required investor sworn
correct information about their companies to be mandatory***wow***
In 1934 Congress acts again-THE SECURITES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (SEC) IS ESTABLISHED
*********HUGE –WE STILL HAVE THIS TODAY********** - Its purpose was to protect the public FROM
FRAUD-DECEPTION-INSIDER TRADING**** CONGRESS CREATED A WATCHDOG AGENCY****
The TVA Harnesses the Tennessee River*** to stop the “GIANT RIP-OFF” (1st 100 days Bill –TVA)
The Electric Power Industry needed REFORM—within 20 years this industry ANNUALLY made 13
BILLION $$$-WOW*** --This was a “Public Utility” USING OUR PUBLICLY OWNED RESOURCES TO
MAKE BILLIONS$$$ WITH “0” RESTRICTIONS--- OR OVERSIGHT—R U KIDDING ME 
It was common for these companies to “gouge” their “trapped” consumers—into paying outrageous and
excessive rates ---THIS WAS RIDICULOUS---ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY WERE USING OUR RESOURCES TO
MAKE THE ELECTRICITY ---FOR NOTHING (This is a case of many in state governments taking huge
amounts of $$$ from these companies for themselves and who cares about the people---its your fault
your stupid enough to let it happen)*****
REMEMBER THAT HOOVER VETOED THIS BILL DUE TO ITS “SOCIALISTIC NATURE”—GOVT SHOULD
NOT BE IN COMPETITION WITH PRIVATE BUSINESSES**** TODAY IN MOORESVILLE, THOUGH, WE
(CITIZENS-CITY GOVERNMENT-WE BOUGHT IT WITH TAXES AND LOANS WE STILL PAY) OWN THE
CABLE COMPANY---YET PAY HIGH PRICES FOR ITS USE ??? WHY??? ) INTERESTING THAT IT WAS THE
CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS WHO CREATED THIS IN MOORESVILLE –SOME SAY IT IS A GOOD THING
FOR OUR CITY –OTHER SAY IT IS A GIANT RIP OFF AND THAT “CORRUPTION” “BRIBERY” ETC--OCCURS (NO PROOF THOUGH) HMMMM---I WONDER WHAT WILL HAPPEN—IT HAS NOT MADE A
PROFIT EVER*** HMMM—WHO IS PAYING FOR THE LOSS ---WE ARE-- BUT-- AGAIN TO BE FAIR---IS IT
A GOOD THING OR NOT---WHAT DO YOU THINK AND WHY? (YOU CAN RESEARCH THIS FOR XC IF YOU
WISH AND SEND ME YOUR ANSWER 
Appalachia was considered one of the poorest areas in the USA at this time—still is—2.5 million people
inhabited this area then—The Tennessee River drainage flows into Western North Carolina [Fontana
Dam created Fontana Lake—there are still cabins there that workers who built the dam used} —[see
the Map p. 791***] The TVA built 20 dams on the Tennessee River and its Tributaries to control
flooding, generate hydroelectric power, and create jobs in this region (at Oak Ridge, Tenn. they did a
ton of the Nuclear Experiments for many years due to the enormous amount of electricity available
for researchers) The Government was able to learn how much it cost to generate electricity and that
information was passed to the states so that their newly created Public Utility Commissions could
effectively regulate these businesses in the interests of their citizens (today Duke Power has to go to
the commission in NC to get permission to raise rates still)***great piece of evidence****
THE TVA WAS BY FAR*****THE MOST REVOLUTIONARY*** OF ALL NEW DEAL PROJECTS*****
The TVA brought not only full employment (before WWII) to this region and also –cheap electric
power, low-cost housing (built by the govt for the workers), abundant cheap fertilizer (nitrates)
restored eroded soil from the periodic flooding no stopped, reforested huge areas by planting trees,
improved the navigation within the region by building roads, and TRANSFORMED A REGION FROM
ONE OF THE MOST IMPOVERISHED TO ONE THAT FLOURISHED****( NOTE: THIS WAS ABOUT A 1/3
OF APPALACHIA –MUCH OF WHICH IS STILL IMPOVERISHED TODAY)
THESE HYDRO-ELECTRIC PROJECTS WERE SUCH A SUCCESS THAT IT SPREAD ACROSS THE NATION
AND BY THE END OF WWII OVER 30% OF ALL OF THE RIVERS WERE DAMMED FOR HYDROIRRIGATION--- This has a tremendous effect on the FAR WEST—the Columbia River-The Colorado
River—and the Missouri Rivers all have Federally funded dams built on them ---this allows many of
he previously BONE-DRY regions to “BLOOM’ with agriculture and PEOPLE--- AND DRIVE THE
GROWTH OF THE MODERN WEST –along with Defense Industry Spending and Innovations DURING
WWII****Today environmentalists and others question the HUGE amount of Federal Control over
Western Lands –some states are still over 50% and as high as 90% “owned” by the Federal
government and this reduces their ability to make $$$ on property taxes which in most states fund
local schools –police –etc ALSO –the controversy over the un-natural damming of rivers some say
has permanently altered the environment—not necessarily for the positive--- TODAY A SOURCE OF
MUCH CONTROVERSY****
WHEW***DONE  PLEASE USE YOUR TIME WISELY ---THERE IS A LOT HERE--