Politics in 1950sCh. 20, Sec 3

Economics• Truman’s first peacetime job was reconversion-

moving to peacetime economy.– Quickly brought troops home from Europe, Asia.– Removed gov’t controls on economy, production.

• Prices rose 25%, eventually settled.

– Workers demanded wage increases they didn’t get due to war effort.• Led to increased strikes in 1946.

• Congress passed Taft-Hartley Act in 1947.– Allowed President to declare 80-day cooling off period,

forcing strikers to return to work in vital industries.– Also required union leaders to swear they weren’t

Communists.• Truman vetoed, Congress overrode veto.

• Democrat Truman began program called Fair Deal, extended New Deal policies.

• Legislation promoted:– Full employment, higher minimum wage, more

unemployment compensation, housing assistance, national health insurance, creation of atomic energy commission.

• Almost all were shot down by Congress.• 1946-Republicans won control of Congress.– Worked to reduce size, power of gov’t, reduce

taxes, block Truman’s goals.

• Truman found more success in civil rights issues.– Wanted “equality of opportunity”.

• 1948-banned discrimination in hiring of federal employees.

• 1948-De-segregated armed forces.• These were first steps of civil rights movement

of ‘50s & ‘60s.

1948 Election• 1948-Truman ran for second term as

President.• Democrat Party split over Truman.– Southern Democrats & segregationists split off,

formed Dixiecrat Praty, backed S. Carolina governor Strom Thurmond for President.

– Liberal Democrats backed Progressive Party Henry Wallace, former FDR VP.

• Republican Party nominated New York governor Thomas Dewey.

Wallace

Dewey

• Truman campaigned against “do-nothing” Congress.– Gave fiery speeches, earned nickname “Give ‘em

hell, Harry”.• During election, everyone thought Dewey

would beat Truman easily.– Truman won easily, Democrats regained Congress.

• Fair Deal continued, won no major victories.• 1951-22nd Amendment passed.– Limited President to two terms or ten years.• No overwhelming public support or opposition.

Ike• 1952-Republican Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower won

election against Democrat Adlai Stevenson.– Ike was talented diplomat, very laid-back, popular.– Strong anti-Communist, promised to end Korean War.– Vice-President Richard Nixon opposed to Communism,

gov’t corruption.• Soon before election, Nixon accused of receiving

illegal gifts from supporters.– Not true, but scandal began.– Nixon went on tv, gave detailed look at finances, said

he had received 1 gift-dog named Checkers, keeping it.– Checkers Speech kept Nixon on ticket, helped ensure

Ike’s victory.

• Ike worked behind scenes, viewed by some as lack of leadership.

• Ike’s style popular, easily won re-election in 1956, again against Stevenson.

• Ike developed Modern Republicanism.– More power to Congress, less to President (unlike

FDR), cutting spending, reducing taxes, balancing budget.

– Liked big business, wanted to shrink size & power of gov’t.

– Gave federal oil lands to states for drilling (more power to states).

• Some of Ike’s plans backfired.– Cuts in gov’t spending led to short recession.– Economic growth slowed, but did not stop.

• Ike also dealt with Space Race against USSR.– Due to Sputnik, Ike created National Aeronautics

and Space Administration (NASA).• Independent agency tasked with space exploration.

• Congress & Ike passed National Defense Education Act.– Improve science & math education in schools.– So US could meet technology challenges against

USSR.