Francis Townsend facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francis Townsend
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Townsend c. 1939
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Francis Everett Townsend
January 13, 1867 Fairbury, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | September 1, 1960 (aged 93) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Burial place | Woodlawn Memorial Park, Compton, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Omaha Medical College |
| Occupation | Physician, public health officer |
| Known for | Townsend Plan |
| Spouse(s) | Wilhelmina "Minnie" Bogue |
Francis Everett Townsend (born January 13, 1867 – died September 1, 1960) was an American doctor and activist from California. During the difficult time of the Great Depression in 1933, he came up with an idea to help older people. This idea was called the "Townsend Plan." It suggested that everyone over 60 years old should receive $200 each month. A key rule was that they had to spend all the money quickly. While the Townsend Plan itself was never put into law, its popularity greatly influenced the United States Congress. It helped push them to create the Social Security system, which provides financial support to retirees, though with smaller amounts than Townsend proposed.
Contents
Francis Townsend: A Plan for Seniors
Early Life and Career Journey
Francis Everett Townsend was born on January 13, 1867, in Fairbury, Illinois. He was the second of six children. When he was a baby, Francis got sick with a type of malaria. Because of this, his family moved to Nebraska. He attended high school for two years there.
In 1898, when Francis was 31, he borrowed money from his father. He moved to Southern California to start a hay farming business. This business did not do well. So, Francis decided to go to Omaha Medical College to become a doctor.
After finishing medical school, Townsend worked as a doctor in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. There, he met Wilhelmina "Minnie" Bogue, a nurse, who later became his wife. When he was 50, Townsend joined the army as a doctor. This was one year before World War I ended in 1918.
After the war, Townsend moved to Long Beach, California. He tried to run a dry ice factory, but it quickly failed. He then worked for a real estate agent named Robert Earl Clements. Clements later played a big role in organizing the Townsend Plan. In 1930, when the Great Depression began, Townsend became a public health officer for the city of Long Beach. He was 63 years old at the time. However, he lost this job three years later.
Francis Townsend passed away in Los Angeles on September 1, 1960. He is buried in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Compton, California.
The Townsend Plan: Helping Older Americans
The Townsend Plan was a big idea to help older people during tough economic times. It suggested that every person over 60 years old should receive $200 each month. This money would come from a special fund called the Old-Age Revolving Pension. This fund would be supported by a small 2% national sales tax. The goal of this tax was to help the economy grow by encouraging people to spend money.
How the Plan Would Work
There were three main rules for people to receive money from the Townsend Plan:
- They had to be retired from their jobs.
- They needed to have a good record and follow the rules.
- They had to spend all the money within 30 days. This rule was very important. It was designed to boost the economy by making sure money moved quickly through businesses.
Spreading the Word About the Plan
In September 1933, Francis Townsend wrote a letter to his local newspaper. This letter started his journey as an activist for older people. In his book, New Horizons (1943), Townsend shared how his idea began. One morning during the Depression, he saw two elderly women searching through his garbage for food. This sad sight inspired him to create his plan.
Within just two years, over 3,400 Townsend Plan Clubs were formed across America. These clubs worked hard to convince Congress to pass a pension for older citizens. Frances Perkins, who was President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor, wrote about this. She said that President Roosevelt felt pressure from the Townsend Plan. He knew Congress needed to act. This pressure led to the creation of the Social Security system. Social Security offered a different, less generous, but still important, way to support retirees. The Townsend Clubs played a key role in making sure Congress took action.
The Plan's Lasting Impact
Even after Francis Townsend passed away in 1960, his movement continued for some time. By 1978, the national Townsend Plan organization was closing down. Only some state chapters remained. At that time, its membership was smaller and mostly made up of older people.
Facing Challenges and a Presidential Pardon
In February 1936, a special committee in Congress looked into the Townsend organization. They found that the organization had raised over a million dollars. They also noted that Townsend had received a salary of $12,000 in the previous year.
During the questioning, Townsend became upset and left the hearing. This led to a difficult situation with Congress. However, in 1938, President Roosevelt granted him a pardon. This pardon resolved the issue.
See also
- New Deal coalition
Images for kids
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Townsend talks with Senator Sheridan Downey
