I asked my husband if he thought Sarah Palin would warrant a page or only a footnote in history? And it led to an interesting discussion between the two of us and led him to consider seemingly powerful people who have been relegated to the ranks of only a footnote. To whit: Father Charles Coughlin. Follow up commentary from my husband, whom we may call Fred, will include Ross Perot and Sarah Palin. 'Fred' will be on hand for discussion and comments.
Father Charles Coughlin is a good example of a political phenomenon who is now a footnote in history. A conservative Roman Catholic Priest in the Great Depression, Father Coughlin was a political leader through the radio, reaching a national audience of over 40 million Americans during the 1930s, approximately one-third of the listening audience. In 1932, Coughlin was a rabid supporter of FDR, with the slogan "The New Deal is the Christ's Deal."
By late 1934, Coughlin had revoked his support, founding The National Union for Social Justice, attacking Roosevelt as a tool of Wall Street and calling for monetary reform, nationalization of major industries and support of Unions. What appeared to be a swing to the left ended up to the right with sympathies for fascist policies of Hitler and Mussolini. Coughlin equated Communism with the Jews and his virulent anti-semitism, anti-Communism, and anti-atheist broadcasts caused a decline in popularity by 1940.
Efforts to shut down his broadcasts raised constitutional issues before the Church ordered him to cease his political activities in 1942. Father Coughlin was an early example of the power of radio in the political arena and has been referenced in song, cartoons, and fiction, but, historically, he is a footnote.