The Great Depression brought hardship to older Americans in particular. The Townsend Plan, authored by California physician Francis Townsend, called for a guaranteed monthly pension (OARP) to every retired citizen age 60 and older, to be paid for by a form of national sales tax, with the stipulation that each pensioner would be required to spend the money within 30 days. The plan had widespread support and influenced retirement policy at the federal level. Townsend clubs sprung up across the nation to put pressure on the government to enact reforms.