A biography of William Aberhart, who became Premier of Alberta in 1935 and head of the first Social Credit government in the world. It includes interviews, commentary and some archival clips, as follows: a sample of an Aberhart rally in August 1936 in Calgary; first anniversary celebration of the Social Credit victory; a physical description of Aberhart; William Irvine, long-time political foe of Aberhart, describes the sort of man he was; What is Social Credit?; Aberhart describes the economic slavery caused by the bankers; his daughter, Mrs. Khona Cooper, describes him; Mary Winspear, a pupil of his at Crescent Heights High School, of which he was principal, and herself now the principal of Weston School in Montreal, talks about him; Florence Todd, a teacher on his staff in Calgary, talks about him; also a member of the school board; a description of his Bible Studies of the Air; Ernest Manning, Premier of Alberta, describes the effect Aberhart's broadcasts had on him at the age of 17 (Manning lived with Aberhart and was the first graduate of his Prophetic Bible Institute); R.D. Jorgenson, now Minister of Health and Welfare, talks about first hearing Aberhart on the radio; John Patrick Gillese, a writer, talks about the effects of the depression on Alberta; others describe conditions at the time; Florence Todd describes the beginning of Aberhart's interest in Social Credit and his opposition to socialism; Charles Pierce, a member of the Board of the Prophetic Bible Institute, tells how Aberhart began to use the Bible Institute programs to spread Social Credit circa 1932; Gillese describes his reaction to the new programs which began when he was 14; Clifford Wilmott, who participated in the programs, describes them and the characters invented to put forth Aberhart's economic views; Florence Todd describes a political meeting; Wilmott continues to describe a public meeting and says "He was the greatest man I ever knew"; Joe H. Unwin describes the first Bible meeting he went to and how he was made president of the Study Group and the subsequent growth of the group. He describes the beginning of Charles Palmer's group, The New Age Club, established in opposition to Aberhart's interpretation of C.H. Douglas' economic theories; Charles Palmer describes the position of the New Age Club, its essential difference being that Palmer wanted to spread his ideas across Canada while Aberhart wanted an organization with himself at its centre, in Alberta only. There was a philosophical difference in Palmer's adherence to Douglas' notion of an international movement. He did not think, as Aberhart did, that monetary reform could be carried out at the provincial level. Unwin describes the meeting in Calgary which Major Douglas addressed, and from which Aberhart's opposition had tried to exclude him. Douglas and Aberhart meet and Aberhart resumes control of the movement. Floyd Baker, a farmer in Saskatchewan, tells how his belief in Social Credit affected him socially. William Irvine, a member of the United Farmers of Alberta Party, M.L.A. at the time, talks about his party's work towards financial reform. He refers to "the tripe that is called Social Credit here". Irvine describes Aberhart's exposition of Social Credit in a public meeting in January 1935 and his own opposition. The United Farmers reject his economic theory and Aberhart converts his movement to a political party in the spring of 1935. Archie Key describes the undemocratic selection of candidates to stand for Aberhart's party. Arthur Wray, a party worker, describes his campaigning for Social Credit. Florence Todd talks about his decision to be leader of the party. Descriptions of the election campaign. Delise [?] describes Election Day, when Aberhart won 89 percent of the seats. Aberhart speaks at the first anniversary victory celebration. An open letter from William Irvine criticizing Aberhart's attempt to organize Alberta's financial system, read by Irvine. ~Arthur Wray discusses the disparity between Aberhart's promises and his performance. Nellie Peterson, a member of the CCF, criticizes Aberhart. Amelia Smith, a member of the Calgary School Board, talks about Aberhart's failure to act. This led to a split in his party. Passion ran high. Description of a meeting with a clash between the loyalist and insurgent elements of the party. Aberhart and then Manning send a message of reassurance, stating "We mean business that the work of the party will go on". Religious piece at the end. Another Aberhart speech defending himself and attacking an accuser. Aberhart repeals the law which might have permitted his constituents to re-call him, when the threat of a re-call became real. G.F. Powell, an Englishman, makes peace between the two factions. Unwin says that the people were solidly behind Aberhart. Powell writes a pamphlet which gets Unwin and Powell hauled into court on 37 charges. This was the work of party opposition, says Unwin. The charges were reduced to libel. Unwin got three months and Powell got six months in jail.~This was interpreted by Aberthart as a political conspiracy against him. Aberhart turned the jail sentences into a laughing-stock. Unwin describes his release. Fred White, who lost his seat during the Social Credit seat during the Social Credit rush, describes him as a bad parliamentarian and an ineffectual debater in the House. The 1940 re-election of Social Credit with a reduced majority. His legislative record is discussed as is the interference of the federal government. Aberhart describes his debt legislation. Ernest Manning describes other legislation. Description of Aberhart's death. Jorgenson talks about an interview with Aberhart. The program ends with an organ playing O God Our Help in Ages Past.
