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Dr. Francis E. Townsend.
SSA History Archives |
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Dr. Francis E. Townsend (right), confers with
Sheridan Downey, U.S. Senator
from California and Upton Sinclair's running mate in the 1934 gubernatorial
campaign.
U.S. Office of War Information photo, National Archives. |
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Townsend supporters rally in Columbus, Kansas in
May 1936.
Library of Congress Photo, LC-USF34-004168-E DLC |
| The Plan |
Dr. Townsend published his plan in a Long Beach, California newspaper,
as a kind of extended "Letter to the Editor," in early 1933.
He was surprised by the swift and massive response the letter generated.
Townsend had tapped a major social problem in America (poverty among
the elderly) and the nation was crying out for a solution. Townsend's
letter led to the formation of an organization and the development
of a formal Plan. The Plan was then published as a pamphlet and distributed
throughout America.
This is the pamphlet the Townsend group distributed in early 1934.
At this early point in the campaign they saw President Roosevelt as
an ally. (You will notice that page 19 of the Plan quotes President
Roosevelt at length.) Townsend fully expected Roosevelt to endorse
his plan. Roosevelt, like most establishment figures of the era, saw
the Townsend Plan as irresponsible and unworkable. Indeed, there is
some evidence that Roosevelt was prodded to introduce his Social Security
proposal to counter the growing influence of the Townsend Plan. Townsend
and his followers were bitterly disappointed with Social Security
because it did not promise immediate payments in 1935, because the
benefits Social Security promised were small compared to the $200
per month that Townsend wanted, and because people had to work under
the Social Security program to earn a payment.
Note: The
Plan has been scanned and reproduced in gif format. Each page has
been imaged separately and the size of each file is indicated in parentheses. |
| Page 1: Cover(378K)
Page 2: The Plan In Brief(204K)
Page 3: Foreword(180K)
Pages 4-6: Analysis of Plan(880K)
Pages 7-8: A Permanent National Cure For
Depression(600K)
Page 9: Prosperity for All, by Dr. Townsend(187K)
Page 10: Editorial by Harry L. Bras(102K)
Page 11: Indorsing Townsend Plan by Robert
Quillen(112K)
Page 12: Here Is an Idea to Think Over by
John Steven McGroarty(111K)
Page 13: In the Evening It Shall Be Light
by Louis Mertins(112K)
Page 14: Answering The Critics(120K)
Page 15: Organization Plan(111K)
Page 16: How To Help(86K)
Page 17: A Petition(74K)
Page 18: The Townsend Plan of National
Old Age Revolving Pensions(126)
Page 19: Excerpts from President Roosevelt's
Speech of March 5th, 1934(441K)
Page 20: Depression Costs(404K) |
| The
Townsend Plan Newsletter |
| "The Modern Crusader" was the newsletter published
by the Townsend Plan's Long Beach, California headquarters. It began
publication in the summer of 1934 and this is the October 26, 1934
issue. At this point in the "crusade" enthusiasm is running
high and many California politicians and merchants were anxious
to be identified with the movement.
Page 1 of the "Crusader" promises the "Largest Mass
Meeting in World's History," and to "do Away with Poorhouses."
The lead editorial promises nothing less than to ". . . make
the United States the ideal spot on earth in which to live."
Note: The newsletter has been scanned and reproduced in gif
format. Each page has been imaged separately and the size of each
file is indicated in parentheses. |
| Page 1: World's Largest Mass Meeting
(294K)
Page 2: Plan Article Published in New
York Times (268K)
Page 3: Letters & Editorials
(259K)
Page 4: Letters & Editorials cont.
(204K)
Page 5: Letters & Editorials cont.
, with Ads (200K)
Page 6: Letters & Editorials cont.
(262K)
Page 7: Lead Editorial, Political Ad
(235K)
Page 8: Lead Editorial , cont. (218K)
Page 9: Political Ad (153K)
Page 10: News & Views (255K)
Page 11: News & Views , cont.
(253K)
Page 12: News & Views , cont.
(197K)
Page 13: News & Views , cont.
(182K)
Page 14: News & Views , cont.
(267K)
Page 15: Subscription Info. (230K)
Page 16: Political Ad (247K) |
| Decorative Stamps |
| Among its multitudinous public information materials, the Townsend
organization produced license plates, windows stickers, commemorative
plates and spoons, and numerous decorative stamps which Plan supporters
used to adorn their letters. Here is a sample of a few of the stamps
used to promote the program. |
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www.socialsecurity.gov
