Work in progress — cycles are added one at a time. Every quote is machine-verified against an archived source; follow the links to read it.
William Lemke · 1936 · Union notable_no_chance
Nonpartisan League lawyer and congressman; co-author of the Frazier–Lemke farm mortgage acts; Union Party presidential candidate in 1936 with the backing of Coughlin, Townsend and Gerald L. K. Smith.
Announced June 19, 1936 with Coughlin's National Union for Social Justice behind him; endorsed by Townsend and Gerald L. K. Smith at Cleveland in August. Coughlin promised nine million votes and quit radio when Lemke got under a million. Not on the ballot in several states.
Positions (4)
| Issue | Position | Kind | Strength | Attribution | Ev. | First | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farm and home mortgage relief | Refinance farm mortgages through the Frazier-Lemke plan (government-issued credit at low interest) | pledge_forward | specific_pledge | reported | C | 1936-06-19 | not_applicable |
| Minimum wages | A 'living annual wage' -- $1,800 for a family of five -- by federal law and a constitutional amendment if necessary | pledge_forward | specific_pledge | surrogate | B | 1936-09-12 | not_applicable |
| Public control of the central bank and money creation | 'Drive the money changers out of the temple': public control of money and credit, further inflation of the currency | pledge_forward | vague_gesture | surrogate | C | 1936-06-21 | not_applicable |
| Old-age pensions and social insurance | The Townsend $200-a-month pension as a plank of the Union coalition | pledge_forward | vague_gesture | reported | C | 1936-08-13 | not_applicable |