The Presidential Veto - 1933 - 1945

President Roosevelt (FDR) vetoed more bills than any other President – 635. That averages over 50 vetoes per year of his Presidency. President Cleveland was the only President to average more vetoes per year – over 70/year in his 8 years as President. No one else comes close.

World War I Veterans Bonus

Presidents have vetoed various Veterans benefit bills going back to President Cleveland in the 1880s. Presidents Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover all vetoed these bills. Now it was FDR’s turn. FDR felt his veto of such importance that, for the first time ever, a President went to Congress to deliver his veto message.

FDR Delivers Veto Message to Congress

In 1924, The government promised WW1 veterans a bonus payable in 1945, with the original bonus amount earning interest until payment. In 1935, Congress passed a bill to immediately pay the 1945 future value of the bonus. FDR’s veto message covered many reasons. You can read the entire statement presented to Congress here. First, FDR says this more than doubles the previously agreed upon bonus:

“…[for] example, the government acknowledged a claim of $400 to be due. This $400…with the addition of…compound interest from that time until 1945, would amount to the sum of $1,000 in 1945…The bill before me provides for the immediate payment of the 1945 value…It means paying $1.6 billion more than the present value of the [bonus]...It requires an [immediate] expenditure of more than $2.2 billion in cash… It directs payment to the veterans of a much larger sum than was contemplated in the 1924 settlement. It is nothing less than a complete abandonment of that settlement.”

One of Congress’s justification for the bill was that it would ‘provide relief for those in need. FDR states that all needy, whether veterans or not, are already receiving assistance under various New Deal programs. Veterans should not get special treatment: “I hold that able-bodied [veterans]should be accorded no treatment different from that accorded to other citizens who did not wear a uniform during the World War… Is it not better to treat every able-bodied American alike and to carry out the great relief program adopted by this Congress in a spirit of equality to all? ”

FDR explains basic economics to the Congress, when Congress said there was no difference in paying a 1945 obligation now, 1935. “If I, as an individual, owe you… $1,000 payable in 1945, it is not a correct statement for you to tell me that I owe you $1,000 today. As a matter of practical fact, if I put $750 into a government savings bond today and make that bond out in your name you will get SI,000 on the due date, ten years from now. My debt to you today, therefore, can not under the remotest possibility be considered more than $750”

FDR points out that Congress is spending money it doesn’t have. “Finally, I invite your attention to the fact that solely from the point of view of the good credit of the United States, the complete failure of the Congress to provide additional taxes for an additional expenditure of this magnitude would in itself and by itself alone warrant disapproval of this measure.” That’s a refreshing attitude sorely missing today. Imagine if Congress had to raise taxes for every expenditure - don’t you think the government would spend our money with greater discretion and care?

The House overrode FDR’s veto. The Senate fell short, although a majority voted to override the veto. Several months later Congress passed a similar bill, FDR again vetoed it. This time both the House and Senate successfully overrode the veto and it became law in 1936. Democrats held significant majorities in Congress - FDR’s own party overrode his vetoes.

Private Bills

Private Bills are laws that relate to a single individual or specific named individuals. Many relate to providing pension or other government benefits to individuals. FDR vetoed hundreds of these bills as unjustified. Some examples:

In 1939, one bill named over 160 people to be granted pensions as children of deceased Civil War Veterans, a war almost 80 years prior to this bill. FDR points out that the recipients needed to be under the age of 16 when the Veteran died. He also states that the new Social Security law will provide assistance to disabled people in need. FDR’s full veto message is shown below.

In another private bill, Congress changed a dis-honorable discharge to an honorable one for a soldier in the Spanish American War. That would have admitted this person into a Veterans care home. He was a deserter. You wonder why Congress passes these bills in the first place. And in a final example, Congress wanted to give extra money to a fireman’s widow who was already receiving money from funds designated for that purpose. Again, FDR says this expenditure is unwarranted. Both Veto Messages are shown below:

Potpourri

Check out some of these other weighty matters worthy of an FDR veto:

Homing Pigeons:

In 1940, as the United States was still struggling with the Great Depression, and Europe was at war, Congress tackled the important homing pigeon issue. It passed a bill making it illegal to shoot homing pigeons. The stated goal, to provide a means of communication in time of war or national emergency. Speaking in favor of the bill, Representative Pfeifer referred to the bird carrying Noah’s message during the flood. And that the deeds of some homing pigeons will go down in the ‘annals of history’.

Beer:

Most retailers of virtually any product purchase from the manufacturer on credit. Congress passed a bill requiring sellers to pay cash for beer, although Whiskey could be still be purchased on credit. FDR’s veto:

Parking Meters:

Everyone loves parking meters, especially from the days when you had to feed actual coins into them. FDR vetoed the bill to install parking meters in Washington, DC. He is OK with meters, as long as the U.S. Treasury gets the money:

And here are the three associated veto messages for homing pigeons, beer, and parking meters:

Conclusion:

FDR dealt with some of the most momentous events in our history – the Great Depression and World War II. Nonetheless, he found the time to veto hundreds of pieces of pointless legislation. Not part of his legacy, but still an important function of the Presidency, well exercised by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

(veto series, to be continued)