Townsend, Francis Everett
- Townsend, Francis Everett
(1867-1960)
Born in Fairbury, Illinois, Francis Townsend grew up in Nebraska. After failing as a farmer in Kansas, he attended Nebraska Medical School in Omaha and graduated in 1903. He established a medical practice in South Dakota, and after serving as a doctor in the army during World War I, he moved to Long Beach, California in 1920. However, his practice was insufficient to support him, and he had to find other parttime work or risk facing old-age in poverty. In 1934, Townsend and the realtor for whom he had been working established the Old-Age Revolving Pensions, Ltd. and began to publicize his idea for a government- run pension scheme that would provide $200 per month for everyone over the age of 60 not in employment financed by a business tax. By 1935, there were more than 3,000 “Townsend Clubs” across the country with a membership of more than 500,000. When the plan was introduced to Congress in January 1935, it attracted more than 20 million signatures in support of legislation. The movement posed a political challenge to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal and contributed to the move “left” in the “Second New Deal.” It provided additional impetus for the Social Security Act. Once that measure was enacted, the Townsend movement lost its drive, and it was also economically unsound. Townsend then joined Father Charles Coughlin in the Union Party in 1936 but left before the election to support Alf Landon. He continued to support the Republican Party and spoke on behalf of the elderly for the remainder of his life.
Historical Dictionary of the Roosevelt–Truman Era .
Neil A. Wynn .
2015.
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Townsend,Francis Everett — Town·send (tounʹzənd), Francis Everett. 1867 1960. American physician and social reformer whose plan for a government sponsored old age pension was a precursor of the Social Security Act of 1935. * * * … Universalium
Francis Everett Townsend — noun United States social reformer who proposed an old age pension sponsored by the federal government; his plan was a precursor to Social Security (1867 1960) • Syn: ↑Townsend • Instance Hypernyms: ↑reformer, ↑reformist, ↑crusader, ↑social… … Useful english dictionary
Francis Townsend — This article is about the old age pension advocate. For the U.S. Homeland Security advisor, see Frances Townsend. Dr. Francis Everett Townsend (January 13, 1867–September 1, 1960) was an American physician who was best known for his revolving old … Wikipedia
Francis Townsend — Le docteur Francis Everett Townsend (13 janvier 1867 1er septembre 1960) est un médecin américain qui est connu pour avoir émis, pendant la Grande dépression, une proposition relative à l attribution d une pension publique minimale aux… … Wikipédia en Français
Townsend — noun United States social reformer who proposed an old age pension sponsored by the federal government; his plan was a precursor to Social Security (1867 1960) • Syn: ↑Francis Everett Townsend • Instance Hypernyms: ↑reformer, ↑reformist,… … Useful english dictionary
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Thomas Francis Bayard — Thomas F. Bayard Thomas Francis Bayard, Sr. (* 29. Oktober 1828 in Wilmington, Delaware; † 29. September 1898 in Dedham, Massachusetts) war ein prominenter Bürger und Politiker der Demokratischen Partei der … Deutsch Wikipedia
crusader — noun a disputant who advocates reform • Syn: ↑reformer, ↑reformist, ↑social reformer, ↑meliorist • Derivationally related forms: ↑meliorism (for: ↑meliorist), ↑ … Useful english dictionary
meliorist — noun a disputant who advocates reform • Syn: ↑reformer, ↑reformist, ↑crusader, ↑social reformer • Derivationally related forms: ↑meliorism, ↑crusade (for: ↑ … Useful english dictionary
reformist — I noun a disputant who advocates reform • Syn: ↑reformer, ↑crusader, ↑social reformer, ↑meliorist • Derivationally related forms: ↑meliorism (for: ↑ … Useful english dictionary
