This 1935 film shows the Republican candidate for President, Governor Alf Landon of Kansas, as he set to face off against Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the 1936 presidential election. The Republican Party focused on fighting back against The New Deal; a series of programs created by FDR instituted during the Great Depression. It was produced by the Commercial Department of Pathe News (:14). The White House in Washington DC opens the film (:21). The Lincoln Memorial follows (:30). Governor Landon is seen in his acceptance speech decrying The New Deal (:53). Celebrations drift by in the streets. An NRA float is highlighted as the NRA was set up through FDR’s new policy (2:20). Newspaper headlines snap by with titles over violators of the NRA (2:43). The Republican Party notes the NRA is a monopoly decimating small businesses (2:50). Another policy of the New Deal affected textile workers (3:13) as the rhetoric suggests the influx of foreign goods that were ‘cheaply made’ would put too much competition on the US market. The film also hints at concerns over ‘aliens’ (3:15). President Gardner of National Mills expresses his view (3:33). A textile worker is interviewed (3:47). Articles made from Japan are compared to US articles (4:43). Farmers are seen plowing their fields as parts of The New Deal affected agriculture (5:09) and called for the destruction of certain surplus goods. Millions of pigs were reported as destroyed (5:44). The cost of living increased 18% (5:55). A butcher raises the prices at a meat market (6:03). Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace follows (6:11). Dried crop fields (6:32) led to dust storms (6:38) as the land sat idle. A John Deere tractor sits in a field (6:48). Framers are pictured leaving their homes (7:14). Foreign goods arrive at port (7:31) from countries such as Argentina (7:38). Wheat was once a major domestic crop (7:49), though now it was an import which hurt domestic farmers (7:49). Foreign dairy products also heightened competition (8:13). Landon delivers a speech for farmers (8:36). A list of bureaus and agencies set up by The New Deal follow (9:00). Government checks are rapidly printed as government spending increased (9:34). Air mail pilots were faced with flying unfamiliar routes (10:06). A downed US Airmail plane follows (10:16). A memo from Robert Reynolds is seen from March 31, 1936 (10:28). Landon is heard again speaking to the unemployed (10:58). Monkey Island was constructed in 1937 as part of The New Deal (12:32). It also allocated funds for the arts and theater between 1933 and 1943 (12:46). The film also notes the New Deal used money to remove ragweed (13:02) and count light posts (13:23). The Macquarie project was abandoned in 1936 (13:46). The Republican candidate for Vice President, Colonel Frank Knox follows (14:35). The three prongs of government are pointed to (17:27). Headlines follow of the Supreme Court out ruling certain policies of The New Deal (17:47). The government began taking out loans to be paid decades in the future (18:41) which caused concern over younger generations being saddled with the debt (19:01). The Republican Party’s button appears at (19:19). Landon is pictured with his family (19:29). Landon heads out on his campaign tour making stops at Nebraska (20:28), Iowa (20:38), his hometown in Middlesex, Pennsylvania (20:59) and in Buffalo, New York (21:11). The film concludes with an added plea to vote Republican (22:07).

Alfred Mossman Landon (1887 – 1987) was a millionaire oilman who served as the 26th Governor of Kansas and was the Republican party’s nominee in the 1936 presidential election. He defeated in a landslide by incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt. As a Depression era governor, Landon tried to reduce taxes while balancing the Kansas state budget. A critic of the New Deal, Landon proved ineffective at getting the public’s attention, and he only won two states in the election. He never ran for public office again.

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