March of the Unemployed During The Great Depression: What A Real President Would Do Today

[Better Believe It]

Run time: 03:32 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zn9taX9DWo   Posted on YouTube: August 07, 2007 By YouTube Member: danieljbmitchell Views on YouTube: 2813   Posted on DU: October 30, 2011 By DU Member: Better Believe It Views on DU: 516

 

In 1932, unemployed veterans marched on Washington, DC demanding payment of a bonus due in the future. The "bonus marchers" were routed by the military on orders of President Hoover. The idea of World War I veterans who had come home as heroes being confronted by the army was a national shock and doomed whatever hope Hoover had for reelection. In this Hollywood version, made on the eve of the New Deal, a fictional president (under the influence of divine inspiration) visits the marchers and promises a public job program similar to job-creation programs of the actual New Deal. Note the explicit reference by one member of the crowd to past veteran service.

[tomg]

1. From a very weird 1933 movie

Called Gabriel Over the White House starring Walter Huston. Basically an inept and crony corrupt president dies - sort of - and is replaced by an angel who immediately suspends the constitution and runs what amounts to a dictatorship - moralistic and benevolent, but fascist as all hell. Considering the proposed 1934 coup against Roosevelt, I always wondered about the timing. This movie has to be seen to be believed. I love it in a kind of wow, what a disaster.

Sorry, I do get the point of the post. Just that the movie is so damn weird. And we are there again, or at least close to it.