Domestic Politics and Policy

1
Domestic Politics and Policy

• Angela Brown
• Chapter 17 Section 3

2
Trumans Domestic Policies

• Truman wanted to follow in FDRs footsteps but
  often seem ill-prepared.
• offered a new batch of proposals in every speech
• people wondered about focus

3
Moving to a Peacetime Economy

• First priority was reconversion.
• Got most soldiers home by 1946 no boats, no
  votes.
• Lifting economic controls difficult people
  wanted goods right away
• control eased 25 inflation people still could
  not enjoy fruits of sacrifice

4

• 1946 - 4.6 million workers on strike demanded
  wage increases they had forgone for the sake of
  war.
• Truman thought demands inflationary and feared it
  would destroy economy.
• 1946 railroad strikes
• Truman ask Congress for right to draft strikers
  into the army.
• He could then order them back on the job as
  soldiers rejected by Senate.

5

• John L. Lewis United Mine Workers defied a court
  order against a strike contempt of court.
• Fined Lewis 10,000 and Union 3.5 million
• 1947 Taft-Hartley Act allowed President to
  declare a 80-day cooling-off period when industry
  strikes affected national.
• Workers had to return to work while government
  conducted a study of the situation.

6

• Required Union officials to sign non-communist
  Oaths .
• Congress passed over president veto.

7
Trumans Fair Deal

• Fair Deal extended the New Deals goals- agreed
  government needed to play an active role in
  securing economic justice for all.
• 21 point program to promote full employment,
  higher minimum wage, unemployment compensation,
  housing assistance an more, national health
  insurance program.

8

• Tremendous political opposition in Congress
  only passed Employment Act of 1946 creating a
  council of economic advisors to advise the
  President.
• Midterm elections republicans won a majority in
  both houses.
• Comments To err is Truman You just sort of
  forget about Harry until he makes another
  mistake.

9
The Election of 1948

• Had no reason to expect victory
• Dixicrats broke with democratic party and
  nominated Strom Thurmond
• Liberal wing followed Henry Wallace Progressive
• Wallace had been FDRs second VP Trumans Sec.
  of Commerce had resigned, did not support
  Trumans cold war policies

10

• Ran against republican Thomas Dewey Gov of New
  York
• Truman campaigned against do nothing republican
  Congress
• electrifying off-the-cuff speeches
• people yelled Give em hell, Harry
• Upset win- papers already printing Deweys win
• out of FDRs shadow President in own right
  pushed to further legislation goals with only
  occasional successes
• Instances of corruption among fed officials
  further hurt Trumans image.

11
Dont Believe Everything You Read!!
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12
Dwight Eisenhower and the Republican Approach

• 1952 Democratic Candidate against Governor of
  Illinois, Adlai Stevenson against Rep. Dwight D.
  Eisenhower, former Commander in Chief of Allied
  forces, President of Columbia University, head of
  NATO
• Truman a scrappy fighter
• Ike a talented diplomat, easy going charm gave
  Americans a sense of security

13
Dwight D. Eisenhower
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• Chant, I like Ike Republican formula for
  victory, K1C2 end Korean War, communism,
  corruption
• Running mate Richard Nixon

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15
The Checkers Speech

• Snag Sept 1952 newspaper accused Richard
  Nixon of having a special fund set up by rich
  republican supporters-Nixon innocent many
  called for him to be removed from the ticket
• Sept 23, Nixon on TV and explained situation in
  own words, gave detailed account of personal
  finances
• Admitted one gift Cocker Spaniel kids like
  the dog and were keeping it

16

• Requested people contact Ikes campaign to
  register opinion whether he should stay on ticket
  People demanded Nixon continue on ticket
• Eisenhower won with 55 of vote and a republican
  Congress

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17
Eisenhower as President

• Eisenhower style was to work behind scene.
• misinterpreted as lack of leadership
• Eisenhower responded to critics that leadership
  is patience etc.
• People approved of Ike.
• 1956 election against Stevenson again won 58
  of vote

18
Modern Republicanism

• Modern republicanism slow growth of federal
  government. Limit Presidential power, increase
  authority of Congress and courts, cut spending,
  reducing, taxes, balancing budget favored big
  business
• Spoke out against welfare state by continued New
  Deal policies
• Cabinet eight millionaires and a plumber (union
  leader)

19

• Attempt to balance budget backfired spending
  cuts economy slump tax revenue dropped
  deficit larger
• Country suffered three economic recession during
  Eisenhowers presidency.
• Helped maintain a mood of stability ensure
  economic security of all Americans
• 1956 Social Security extended to make eligible 10
  million additional workers.

20
Meeting the Technology Challenge

• In response to Sputnik in 1957 Eisenhower signed
  National Defense Education Act of 1958 to improve
  science and math education and to meet scientific
  and technology challenge for Soviets
• Low cost loans to college students reduction in
  payments if became teachers
• granted millions to state schools to build
  science and foreign language facilities.