There were several prominent critics of FDR and the New Deal. Huey Long and Father Coughlin originally supported FDR but later criticized him, with Coughlin calling FDR a "betrayer and liar". Francis Townsend proposed giving pensions to all Americans over 60. Business groups also opposed the New Deal, arguing it interfered too much with business. FDR proposed expanding the Supreme Court after it ruled several New Deal programs unconstitutional, but this was unpopular and remained unlikely to pass, though FDR's goals were eventually achieved through other means.
5. · It complained that the New Deal interfered too much with business and people’s lives. Liberty League : Criticism of the New Deal
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7. FDR and the Supreme Court Ex.) AAA The Conflict: February 10, 1937, Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch, "Trying to Change the Umpiring" · The Supreme Court ruled that many New Deal laws were unconstitutional.
8. · After winning the 1936 presidential election, FDR proposed increasing the number of Supreme Court Justices from 9 to 15. February 14, 1937, Waterbury (CT) Republican , "Do We Want A Ventriloquist Act In The Supreme Court?"
9. * This would allow FDR to appoint 6 new pro-New Deal Justices to the Supreme Court. The plan quickly became known as FDR’s attempt to “ pack the court.” February 18, 1937, Oakland (California) Tribune , "New Blood"
10. February 28, 1937, Richmond (Virginia) Times Dispatch , "What Has Become of the Old-Fashioned Man...?" The Results: · Many Americans, including New Deal supporters, felt that FDR was unfairly trying to control the Supreme Court.
11. August 26, 1937 Newport (R.I.) News , "And That's The Versatile Quarterback Who Said If One Play Didn't Work He'd Try Something Else." The proposal remained very unpopular, and there was never much of a chance of getting it passed.
12. * However, one anti-New Deal Justice eventually changed his mind, and FDR appointed a pro-New Deal Justice to the Supreme Court after an anti-New Deal Justice retired, so he essentially got his way. · FDR withdrew his plan six months later. August 30, 1937 Brooklyn Citizen , "Good For Another Meal"
![Criticism of the New Deal ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Senator Huey Long :](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)