 Denny and the League wanted to create a program that would replicate the town meetings that were held in the early days of the United States.Denny was League director from 1937 to 1951; he moderated the program from 1935 to 1952 and had a major role in choosing weekly topics.The League for Political Education changed its name in 1938 to The Town Hall, Inc. and in 1956 became affiliated with New York University, an association which lasted until 1978.