1935: Huey P. Long – A Fair Deal for the Veterans | NBC VFW Bonus Bill Address

Historic NBC radio address by United States Senator Huey P. Long of Louisiana, delivered under the auspices of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) on May 11, 1935. Broadcast nationwide at the height of the Great Depression, Long's speech, A Fair Deal for the Veterans, was a passionate defense of World War I veterans and a forceful appeal for the immediate payment of the Adjusted Service Certificates, commonly known as the "Bonus." Speaking only days before President Franklin D. Roosevelt vetoed the Patman Bonus Bill, Long urged Americans to pressure Congress to override the anticipated veto and honor what he argued was a debt owed to the men who served during the First World War. The address became one of Huey Long's most notable national radio speeches and demonstrated his growing influence as one of the country's leading populist critics of the Roosevelt administration. Long argued that the so-called "Bonus" was not a gratuity but delayed wages earned by soldiers who had risked their lives in wartime service. 00:00 - Historical Context and Introduction 00:25 - A Fair Deal for the Veterans 02:41 - The Patman Bill and the Soldier's Bonus 04:30 - A Fair Deal for the Veterans 07:37 - A Fair Deal for Veterans 10:32 - Arguments for the Bonus Bill 12:35 - A Fair Deal for Veterans Key moments featured in this broadcast: The Bonus is not a bonus: • Long insists that the Adjusted Service Certificates represent unpaid wages promised to veterans for their military service, not a gift from the government. A defense of the common soldier: • He contrasts the hardships endured by soldiers in the trenches with those who remained safely at home during the war, arguing that veterans deserve fair compensation. Criticism of Wall Street and banking interests: • Long denounces what he sees as a double standard, noting that banks could use government bonds to obtain federal funds while veterans were denied similar treatment for their service certificates. Direct attacks on President Roosevelt: • In one of the speech's most controversial moments, Long criticizes Roosevelt's opposition to the Bonus Bill and mocks the president's statements regarding his own wartime service. A nationwide lobbying campaign: • Throughout the address, Long repeatedly urges listeners to wire their senators and demand that Congress override any presidential veto. Economic arguments for paying the Bonus: • Long contends that immediate payment would inject billions of dollars into the economy and stimulate business during the depths of the Depression. Historical significance: The issue of veterans' compensation had become one of the most contentious political debates of the 1930s. Under the World War Adjusted Compensation Act of 1924, veterans received certificates that were not scheduled for full payment until 1945. During the Great Depression, many veterans demanded immediate payment, arguing that they desperately needed the money. Huey Long and the Veterans of Foreign Wars joined forces in 1935 to support the Patman Bonus Bill, which proposed immediate payment of these certificates. The speech was part of a national campaign to mobilize public opinion and pressure Congress. President Roosevelt ultimately vetoed the legislation on May 22, 1935, arguing that it would endanger federal finances, although Congress later enacted a different bonus payment measure in 1936 over his veto. The broadcast also illustrates Long's extraordinary use of radio. By 1935, he had become one of America's most powerful radio personalities, reaching millions of listeners with his populist message and helping build a nationwide following that extended far beyond Louisiana. This rare NBC broadcast preserves one of the defining political speeches of the New Deal era, capturing Huey P. Long's dramatic defense of World War I veterans and his growing challenge to the policies of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Subscribe for more historic radio broadcasts, political speeches, and rare recordings from the Golden Age of Radio. #HueyPLong #VeteransBonus #BonusBill #OldTimeRadio #GreatDepression