Charles Coughlin Historical Figure Nationality: United States (born in Canada) Religion: Catholicism Date of Birth: 1891 Date of Death: 1979 Cause of Death: Natural Causes Occupation: Priest, Author, Broadcaster Turtledove Appearances: "Joe Steele" POD: 1878 Relevant POD: July, 1932 Type of Appearance: Contemporary Reference Date of Birth: 1891 Date of Death: 1935 Cause of Death: Execution by firing squad

Father Charles Edward Coughlin (1891–1979) was a Canadian-born Roman Catholic priest at Royal Oak, Michigan's National Shrine of the Little Flower Church. He was one of the first political leaders to use radio to reach a mass audience, as more than forty million tuned to his weekly broadcasts during the 1930s. While initially a supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal, Coughlin grew disenchanted with Roosevelt and what he claimed were undue "Jewish" influences in capitalism. Thus, he began praising Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. As World War II began in Europe, the Roosevelt Administration and the Catholic Church made efforts to reign in Coughlin. By 1942, with the U.S. fully committed to the war, Coughlin lost his momentum completely.

Charles Coughlin in "Joe Steele"Edit

Charles Coughlin's early opposition to President Joe Steele's Four-Year Plan and his vocal support for Adolf Hitler led to his arrest for "ties" to Nazi Germany and his filmed confession that he, Huey Long, and the Gang of Four had conspired to make the country go Fascist. He was convicted of treason and executed by firing squad.