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1932 › Franklin D. Roosevelt (Democratic) › Benefits for disabled and service-connected veterans
Full justice and generosity for veterans disabled by actual wartime service — silence on the bonus
pledge_forwarddirectional_stanceparty_platformevidence A Veterans⚡ Bonus Army march and eviction similar solutions · similar reasoning
Solution
Justice and generosity for war veterans "who have suffered disability or disease caused by or resulting from actual service in time of war" and their dependents. The platform and candidate say nothing about immediate cash payment of the adjusted-service bonus.
Rationale
The "actual service" qualifier tracks the Economy-in-government position: benefits for service-connected disability, not for the non-service-connected pensions enacted in 1930.
The bonus silence is deliberate; see reception records for how veterans' groups and Hoover read it.
Statements (2)
We advocate the full measure of justice and generosity for all war veterans who have suffered disability or disease caused by or resulting from actual service in time of war and for their dependents.
That admirable document, the platform which you have adopted, is clear. I accept it 100 percent.
Blanket endorsement of every plank.
Follow-through
partialcontested among sources
The Economy Act (March 20, 1933) repealed all veterans' benefit laws and let the President re-set them by executive order: non-service-connected benefits fell more than 40 percent, and even service-connected compensation was cut, before Congress restored about $90 million over Roosevelt's veto in March 1934. 'Full justice and generosity' for the service-disabled was honored in principle and breached in the first year's economies.
Mechanisms
| Date | Type | Name | Effect | Consistent? | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933-03-20 | statute | Economy Act of 1933, Section 17 charted on: Federal surplus or deficit (fiscal year) | Its most important provisions, however, repealed all federal laws regarding veterans' benefits. | no | Economy Act of March 20, 1933 - Wikipedia |
| 1934-03-28 | statute | Independent Offices Appropriation Act (over veto) charted on: Federal surplus or deficit (fiscal year) | In March 1934, Congress overrode Roosevelt's veto and added another $90 million in veterans benefits and $120 million to federal workers' salaries. | partly | Economy Act of March 20, 1933 - Wikipedia |
Obstruction
deliberate_abandonment The administration chose veterans' cuts as the main instrument of the economy pledge.
Assessments
Cuts fell hardest on non-service-connected cases, but service-connected compensation was also reduced and partly restored by Congress and the courts.
Benefits for non-disabled veterans fell more than 40%, creating deep resentment among former soldiers and officers and leading to the establishment of the Veterans of Foreign Wars as a major force in American politics.
Reception (1)
Roosevelt is running on a platform more emphatic on veterans' relief, and veterans may vote for him expecting the bonus, which he could not sign.
Governor Roosevelt is running upon a platform with a more emphatic plank upon veterans' relief.
Other positions on this issue
- Full relief for service-disabled veterans and dependents; review existing veterans' laws to remove inequalities and effect economies — Herbert Hoover, 1932 directional_stance
- Continue just treatment of war veterans and dependents — Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1936 vague_gesture
1932-fdr-disabled-veterans-justice · created by claude-fable-5-1 · review: unreviewed