Between March and June 1933, Congress, under the leadership of Speaker Henry T. Rainey (D-Ill.) and Senate Majority Leader Joe Robinson (D-Ark.) passed legislation that was enormous in its scope and revolutionary in its change in the Relief, Recovery, and Reform program and the concept of the First 100 Days has since served as a measuring stick for a presidency. Not all proposals were voted on and not all of them were necessarily “liberal”. The emergency banking legislation to stabilize banks, for instance, was embraced by most Senate conservatives, and many voted for the Economy Act. The Cullen-Harrison Act permitting the sale and taxation of 3.2% beer got some significant conservative support as well. The legislation that attracted substantial conservative opposition included the Agricultural Adjustment Act, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the National Industrial Recovery Act, and legislation nullifying gold clauses in contracts. Many members of the House and Senate supported the Federal Emergency Relief Act, which provided unemployment aid to the states. I have included MC-Index scores for the 73rd Congress with these votes.

These are:

House

1. Economy Act

Passed 266-139: D 197-93, R 69-41, F 0-5, 3/11/33.

2. Cullen-Harrison Act

Passed 316-97: D 238-58, R 73-39, F 5-0, 3/14/33.

3. Agricultural Adjustment Act

Passed 315-98: D 272-24, R 39-73, F 4-1, 3/22/33.

4. Federal Emergency Relief Act

Passed 331-42: D 252-12, R 74-30, F 5-0, 4/21/33.

5. Tennessee Valley Authority Conference Report

Adopted 258-112: D 243-29, R 12-83, F 3-0, 5/17/33.

6. National Industrial Recovery Act

Passed 325-76: D 267-25, R 54-50, F 4-1, 5/26/33.

7. Gold Clause Invalidation Resolution

Passed 283-57: D 250-9, R 28-48, F 5-0, 5/29/33.

Senate

1. Emergency Banking Relief Act

Passed 73-7: D 51-1, R 22-5, F 0-1, 3/6/33.

2. Economy Act

Passed 62-13: D 43-4, R 19-9, 3/15/33.

3. Cullen-Harrison Act

Passed 43-30: D 31-13, R 12-17, 3/16/33.

4. Federal Emergency Relief Act

Passed 55-17: D 42-2, R 13-15, 3/30/33.

5. Agricultural Adjustment Act

Passed 64-20: D 48-4, R 15-16, F 1-0, 4/28/33.

6. Tennessee Valley Authority Act

Passed 63-20: D 48-3, R 14-17, F 1-0, 5/3/33.

7. Agricultural Adjustment Act Conference Report

Adopted 53-28: D 39-11, R 13-17, F 1-0, 5/10/33.

8. Gold Clause Invalidation Resolution

Passed 48-20: D 43-2, R 4-18, F 1-0, 6/3/33.

9. National Industrial Recovery Act

Passed 58-24: D 47-4, R 10-20, F 1-0, 6/9/33.

10. National Industrial Recovery Act Conference Report

Adopted 46-39: D 41-15, R 5-23, F 0-1, 6/13/33.

House Votes

Senate Votes