PresidentialPositionsIssuesReceptionTimelineDocuments

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.

1936

Huey P. Long vs William Lemke

IssueHuey P. LongWilliam Lemke
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 vague_gesturenot_applicable
The Union Party's founding program as Coughlin stated it -- take money creation from private banks; go 'much further in the inflationists' direction' than the Thomas amendment and silver purchase.
Distribution of national income and purchasing power
Share Our Wealth: cap fortunes, guarantee every family a homestead and income specific_pledgenot_applicable
A wealth tax and redistribution financed by massive federal spending: a guaranteed household grant and annual income, old-age pensions, limits on fortunes.
—
Minimum wages —
A 'living annual wage' -- $1,800 for a family of five -- by federal law and a constitutional amendment if necessary specific_pledgenot_applicable
Coughlin's plank for the Union candidate: amend the Constitution so 'free unbridled competition must submit to reasonable Federal laws' guaranteeing a fair annual wage to every willing worker.
Farm and home mortgage relief —
Refinance farm mortgages through the Frazier-Lemke plan (government-issued credit at low interest) specific_pledgenot_applicable
The 'inflationary farm mortgage bill' Lemke authored: federal refinancing of farm debt with currency issued for the purpose, blocked by the administration and the House in 1936.
Old-age pensions and social insurance —
The Townsend $200-a-month pension as a plank of the Union coalition vague_gesturenot_applicable
Absorb the Townsend clubs into the Union ticket; Dr. Townsend endorsed Lemke at Cleveland in August.