Townsend and Roosevelt: Lessons from the Struggle for Elderly Income Support

When the US government was trying to frame a Social Security Act in the 1930s, an alternative plan, formulated by Francis E. Townsend, was also being considered. The Townsend Plan was a radical pension scheme that did not rely on prefunding or the recipient's work history. It had appeal for man...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Labor history 2001-08, Vol.42 (3), p.255-276, Article 255
Main Author: Mitchell, Daniel J. B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Federal legislation
History
New Deal
Pensions
Policy Implementation
Political History
Public Policy
Reforms
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano (1882-1945)
Social Security
Townsend, Francis E
United States of America
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Summary:When the US government was trying to frame a Social Security Act in the 1930s, an alternative plan, formulated by Francis E. Townsend, was also being considered. The Townsend Plan was a radical pension scheme that did not rely on prefunding or the recipient's work history. It had appeal for many, especially the elderly, but the means for its implementation remained uncertain. The conflict between Townsend & President Franklin D. Roosevelt & Congress over the matter is examined here, based on published documents & archival data, revealing the political processes that went so far as to initiate an FBI investigation. Eventually, the Townsend Plan was discarded, & the Social Security Act approved. Today's struggle as to how best to provide income & other support for the elderly might draw some insight from this historical event. S. Stanton
ISSN:0023-656X
1469-9702
DOI:10.1080/00236560120068137