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

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

if you have millions of older americans alive with frances townsend -- aligned with frances townsend, that might be a threat in terms of getting their votes. response was to blunt the force of the townsend plan by offering his own solution, which is the emergence of the social security plan. though townsend remained a viable political figure for a few years, the threat of dr. townsend began to dissipate through the middle 1930's. it is now one of the most important plans that people rely on in the united states. although people criticize social security, and take various positions about it, it has been in effect for more than seven decades. this is a major federal program that helps people across the united states, whatever its failings. it is a major program that people rely on. this came into existence largely because of the ideas of one guy walking around the streets of long beach who did not like what he saw. it shows how important a single idea can become, how it can ignite and catch fire across the united states. this is not unusual. when you think about the populist party of th

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

. >>> congressman mike townsend wants to cut the tax on sparkling line by two-thirds. most sparkling wine come from france but some of the u.s. bottles sale at 10-dollar. >> we will have the latest on a deadly shooting in south san francisco as we hear from a close family friend >>> and the pop you ewe large influx whale cull p ture makes -- popular whale sculpture makes it way back home today. >> a man of interest in a south san francisco shooting that killed one person and injured another is considered armed and dangerous by police. >> reporter: we are here at orange memorial park in san francisco. over to my right is a playground. this is the community center. over to my left is a bathroom area, basketball courts. this is also the area where the shooting took place yesterday afternoon. a group of men started arguing about two or three blocks from here. police need your help finding 19-year-old christian omar cruz. he was last wearing a blue windbreaker with a yellow stripe. anyone who knows where he is should call 911. police returned to the orange park area to follow up with their investigation. polic

if you have millions of older americans alive with frances townsend -- aligned with frances townsend, that might be a threat in terms of getting their votes. roosevelt's response was to blunt the force of the townsend plan by offering his own solution, which is the emergence of the social security plan. though townsend remained a viable political figure for a few years, the threat of dr. townsend began to dissipate through the middle 1930's. it is now one of the most important plans that people rely on in the united states. although people criticize social security, and take various positions about it, it has been in effect for more than seven decades. this is a major federal program that helps people across the united states, whatever its failings. it is a major program that people rely on. this came into existence largely because of the ideas of one guy walking around the streets of long beach who did not like what he saw. it shows how important a single idea can become, how it can ignite and catch fire across the united states. this is not unusual. when you think about the populist

the roosevelt administration realized that in 1934, 1935, in 1936 that frances townsend represented a political threat because if you have millions of older americans aligned, that might be a threat in terms of getting their votes. so franklin d. roosevelt's response was to fly the force of the townsend plan by offering his own solution to the plan, and that is the emergence of the social security plan. it did in fact blunt townsend's appeal, although he remained a viable political figure for the next couple of years. the threat coming from dr. townsend began to dissipate with the emergence of social security in the middle 30's, and the rest is history. now they are the most important plans that people rely on in the united states. while people criticize the security, this is been around for more than seven decades. this came into existence largely because the ideas of one guy walking around the streets of long beach who did not like what he saw. it just goes to show you how important a single idea can go. this is not unusual. when you think about the populist party of the 1880's and