Splitting the Vote in Massachusetts: Father Charles E. Coughlin, the Union Party, and Political Divisions in the 1936 Presidential and Senate Elections

Abstract: This article briefly traces Father Coughlin 's religious upbringing and the emergence of his persona before explaining the evolution of his political involvement and viewpoints from 1932 to 1936, specifically focusing on the 1936 Senate race in Massachusetts and the implications of the race's outcome for Coughlin's popularity and political aspirations. Initially confidante and strong supporter of Franklin Roosevelt, Coughlin went on to endorse several third-party candidates in opposition to FDR and the Democratic ticket. In the Massachusetts Senate race, Coughlin's support of Union Party candidate O'Brien over Democratic Party candidate James Michael Curley arguably caused split in the Democratic vote, thereby leading to the victory of Republican Party candidate Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., as well as inciting the anger of Cardinal William Henry O'Connell and many members of the Catholic Church along the way. Coughlin's opposition to the Democratic Party under FDR and increasingly offensive sermons led to sharp decline in his popularity and political influence. In addition to secondary sources, this article draws from the papers of Charles E. Coughlin and Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. and the periodicals, The Church World and the Daily Boston Globe.During the 1936 Presidential campaign, Father Charles E. Coughlin described the New Deal as a broken down Colossus straddling the harbor of Rhodes, its left leg standing on ancient Capitalism and its right mired in the red mud of communism. Roosevelt, he stated, was anti-God and radical. Later in Cleveland, Ohio, he derisively referred to Roosevelt as President and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) as great scab army.1 Much to his undoing, Father Coughlin rarely held back his opinions and preferences in terms of American politics and political candidates. While Coughlin started out as local parish in Detroit, Michigan, once his show took off, he became vocal political activist and critic of many government programs and leaders. Coughlin's political downfall, however, centered on backing the wrong horse in the 1936 Massachusetts Senate race and such scathing denunciations of Roosevelt. Father Coughlin's increasingly radical opinions alienated many of his political supporters, parishioners, and fellow church leaders and led to decline in popularity. This article begins with Coughlin's Catholic upbringing in Canada and first clerical position in Detroit and proceeds to the birth of the radio priest and his early forays into political and economic commentary through mass communication. Then the article moves into an in-depth discussion of Coughlin's influence on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts leading up to the 1936 election, both at the presidential and senatorial levels, and his fall from grace following the defeat of the Union Party candidates and the continued ascendance of the Democratic Party under Roosevelt.Charles Edward Coughlin was born in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1891. He was the only child of Thomas and Amelia (nee Mahoney) Coughlin, lower-middle-class Irish couple. Charles's early education and social life were dominated by the Catholic Church. In 1903 he proceeded from St. Mary's Parish school to high school and later college at St. Michael's College in Toronto. In 1911 he was president of the first graduating class from St. Michael's College to receive University of Toronto degree due to the recent federation of the two schools. His entire education directed him toward the priesthood. He wrestled with his desire to be politician and his parents' expectation of his entering the priesthood, but ultimately he entered St. Basil's Seminary in Toronto following trip to Europe. Less than five years later, on June 29, 1916, Charles E. Coughlin was ordained priest. His first career had begun.In 1918, Coughlin was presented with the option of remaining in the Basilian Order in Canada or becoming secular with local parish responsibilities. …

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