Ohio Townsend Plan, Inc.

A branch of the Townsend National Recovery Plan, Inc., formerly known as the Old Age Revolving Pension Plan, which was established by Dr. Francis E. Townsend of California in 1934.

The Ohio Townsend Plan, Inc. was a branch of the Townsend National Recovery Plan, Inc., formerly known as the Old Age Revolving Pension Plan (OARP). This plan was established by Dr. Francis E. Townsend, an elderly physician from California, in January 1934. While working for the Long Beach Department of Health, Townsend observed first hand the devastating effects of the Great Depression on the elderly left without a job and income. In a letter to the editor of a Long Beach newspaper, he outlined a program that would draw on the accumulated knowledge of the elderly, and utilize their experience as consumers. Under his plan, persons over the age of sixty, those permanently and totally disabled, and widows with dependent children; who agreed to give up all other sources of income, had never been institutionalized in a mental hospital or convicted of a crime would receive a monthly pension. The major condition of the OARP was the entire pension must be spent before the recipient would become eligible for the following month's pension. Townsend believed the plan would stimulate the economy through the increased spending of the estimated 500,000 elderly in the United States in 1935. Using the slogan "Age for Leisure, Youth for Work," the OARP promised to cure unemployment, decrease prison rolls, and reduce crime. These promises would be fulfilled when the elderly workers retired, opening their jobs to younger workers who formerly roamed the streets looking for a job.

The clubs formed to promote these ideas were organized in a hierarchical manner, giving ultimate power to the national headquarters. Clubs elected twelve members to serve each year as the club's advisory council. The president of each club council was eligible, if elected, to serve as one of the twelve members of the congressional district advisory council. The president of each such council automatically served on the state council. Presiding over the state council was the paid national headquarter's field representative. At annual state conventions, three members from the state council were elected to serve on a regional council of twelve. The regional councils served the the national organization in an advisory capacity, with one elected member each to serve on the national advisory council of twelve. Presiding over the entire organization was the charismatic Dr. Francis Townsend, and later his son Robert.

Among the states, Ohio proved to be a Townsend stronghold. The Townsend Organization in 1938, four short years after the plan's introduction, estimated their Ohio membership to be 200,000. In the Greater Cleveland area there were approximately ninety clubs with 100-200 members each. The mid-sized town of Lakewood alone boasted 4,800 members. Because of this large following, Ohio continued to take on importance in the national Townsend movement. Ever-increasing sums of money raised by Ohio Townsendites for the national headquarters and the large number of committed followers prompted the move of the national headquarters from Chicago to Cleveland in the 1950s. Later it was moved to Lakewood Townsend Center where it remained even after the dissolution of the national organization ca. 1966.

Charles "Harry" and Rose Wendorff were largely responsible for this support. They managed Lakewood Club #2, with one of the two holding the club presidency from ca. 1938 until the 1970s. Charles was elected to the Metropolitan Council 1943-1946, and acted as Deputy State Director in Ohio, 1947-1958. In 1959, Joseph Waite (Wojtasik), Ohio State Director, resigned due to differences with Robert Townsend. Rose and Charles Wendorff were immediately appointed State Co-Directors and ran the remnants of the Ohio Clubs until the mid-1970s. Club ranks were drastically reduced as death and illness took their toll. Finally, with the death of Charles Wendorff, the driving force behind the Ohio groups, the activities of the organization all but stopped. As of 1981, the Townsend Organization still existed, but in name only. Numerous Townsend clubs still functioned through a correspondence network.

The original Townsend Plan was never passed by Congress, although numerous hearings and votes were taken on the proposal. Yet, the Townsend Organization and the political pressure it exerted on lawmakers was one reason behind the passage of the Social Security Act and subsequent legislation providing aid to the elderly.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Townsend Plan