dr. frances townsend. he proposed that every american over the age of 60 should get a check from the federal government every month and the only proviso is that you would have to spend that money every month, you cannot save it. the idea of the safety net for older citizens and it would provide an income for older americans. they could spend the income every month and that would generate jobs for local areas. this became known as the townsend plan. the townsend plan caught fire. within two years, townson was touring the united states in townsend clubs, millions of americans -- older americans paid dues to townsend. he became a major political figure. this is 1933, the era of small government. the federal government was much smaller. course, this is the issue about the great depression and the new deal. this is why franklin roosevelt was regarded as a controversial president, government did not routinely stepped in and help people who found themselves in severe economic crisis or national emergency. it was

dr. frances townsend. the proposed that every american over the age of 60 should get a check from the federal government every month. and the only proviso is you have to spend all that money every month. you couldn't save it. the idea is that the older citizens would have a safety net. the idea of the safety net. and it would provide and -- it would provide a income every month and it would study -- and it would stimulate jobs. call fire.d plan within two years, he was creating townsend clubs. millions of older americans joined the townsend clubs, paid monthly dues to townsend. for a while, he became a major clinical figure. now remember, this is 1933, the era of small government. the government was much smaller. tax receipts were much smaller. it was not a routine thing. this is the issue of the great depression and the new deal. this is why frank when roosevelt was regarded a controversial president. government did not routinely step in and help people who found themselves in really orere economic crisis

dr. francis townsend. he proposed that every american over the age of 60 should get a check from the federal government every month. the only proviso is that you would have to spend that money every month. havee older citizens would a safety net. it would provide an income for older americans, they could spend it every month and it would generate jobs for local areas. this became known as the townsend plan. the townsend plan caught fire. within two years, townsend was touring the united states and creating townsend clubs. millions joined the clubs and paid monthly dues. for a while, he became a major political figure. this is 1933, the era of small government. the federal government was much smaller, tax receipts were much smaller. this is the issue about the great depression and the new deal, this is why franklin roosevelt was regarded as controversial. the government did not routinely step in and help people who found themselves in severe economic crisis, or national emergency. there was not a tradition

dr. frances townsend he proposed that every american over the age of 60 should get a check on the federalovernment every month. provision is that you have to spend the money and cannot save it. it was an idea of a safety net. it would provide an income for older americans that could spend the income every month and that would generate jobs for local areas. this became known as the townsend plan. in washington d.c., roosevelt in 1934,ation realized 1935, 1936, frances townsend represented a political threat. if you have millions of older americans aligned with frances townsend and his plan for recovery for older americans, that might be a threat in terms of getting their vote. pregnant roosevelt's response was to block the force but offered his own solution, which is the emergence of social security. be sure to tune in to book tv and american history tv this weekend as the city's tour starts in long beach, california. you can watch videos if you go to our website at www.c-span.org /citiestour. host: at our table this morning, david winston along with stefan hankin. thank you for being here

dr. francis townsend. he proposed that every american over the age of 60 should get a check from the federal government every month and the only proviso is that you would have to spend that money every month, you cannot save it. the idea of the safety net for older citizens and it would provide an income for older americans. they could spend the income every month and that would generate jobs for local areas. this became known as the townsend plan. the townsend plan caught fire. within two years, townson was touring the united states in townsend clubs, millions of americans -- older americans paid dues to townsend. he became a major political figure. this is 1933, the era of small government. the federal government was much smaller. of course, this is the issue about the great depression and the new deal. this is why franklin roosevelt was regarded as a controversial president, government did not routinely stepped in and help people who found themselves in severe economic crisis or national emergency. it w