1 The Truman Years: Fair Deal & Domestic Front (1945 - 1952)

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The Truman Years:The Truman Years:Fair Deal & Domestic FrontFair Deal & Domestic Front

(1945 - 1952)(1945 - 1952)

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Harry S TrumanHarry S Truman

Major contrast to FDRMajor contrast to FDR““The buck stops here”The buck stops here”““If you can’t stand the heat, If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”get out of the kitchen”"I have just seen your lousy "I have just seen your lousy review of Margaret's concert. review of Margaret's concert. It seems to me you're a It seems to me you're a frustrated old man. Someday frustrated old man. Someday I hope to meet you. When I hope to meet you. When that happens, you'll need a that happens, you'll need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes, and perhaps for black eyes, and perhaps a jock supporter below. a jock supporter below. (signed) HST, President." (signed) HST, President."

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From War to PeaceFrom War to Peace

DemobilizationDemobilization– dismantling of our war machinedismantling of our war machine– industry converting from wartime to industry converting from wartime to

peacetime productionpeacetime production

Economic growth “overnight”Economic growth “overnight”– from “going without” to “gadget hunger”from “going without” to “gadget hunger”– from “doom” to “boom”from “doom” to “boom”

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From War to Peace From War to Peace ((continued)continued)

Wage and Price IssuesWage and Price Issues– Power of supply & demand became obviousPower of supply & demand became obvious– Strikes and work stoppages occurStrikes and work stoppages occur– Spiraling inflationSpiraling inflation– Increased govt. takeovers; rift between Increased govt. takeovers; rift between

Truman & laborTruman & labor

Natl. Security Act (1947)Natl. Security Act (1947)

Increased peacetime militaryIncreased peacetime military

Option instead of nuclear weaponsOption instead of nuclear weapons

Increased size AND scopeIncreased size AND scope– NSA, CIA, Task Forces,NSA, CIA, Task Forces,

Joint Chiefs, etc.Joint Chiefs, etc.

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Fair DealFair Deal

21 Point domestic 21 Point domestic improvement planimprovement plan

Continued reforms of Continued reforms of New DealNew Deal

Not received well by Not received well by CongressCongress

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Impact of the GI BillImpact of the GI Bill

Low interest loans for collegeLow interest loans for college

Loans to open up small businessLoans to open up small business

Low interest mortgagesLow interest mortgages

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LevittownsLevittowns

First of three built on Long IslandFirst of three built on Long Island

Each Each home the same and cost the sameand cost the same

Affect on societyAffect on society– Combined elements of city and rural lifeCombined elements of city and rural life– Alternative to crowded cities which led to Alternative to crowded cities which led to

migration to the “suburbs”migration to the “suburbs”– New way of life = long commutes, new gov’t New way of life = long commutes, new gov’t

and new schoolsand new schools

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SuburbinzationSuburbinzation

Pre-planned communities and Pre-planned communities and neighborhoodsneighborhoods

Environmental effects?Environmental effects?

Love Canal Incident (1976)Love Canal Incident (1976)

““Rust Belt” to “Sun Belt” after 1970sRust Belt” to “Sun Belt” after 1970s

Leads to urban/suburban sprawlLeads to urban/suburban sprawl

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Off-year election -1946Off-year election -1946

““Had enough?”Had enough?”

Republican sweepRepublican sweep

Fair Deal runs into road blocksFair Deal runs into road blocks

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Election of 1948Election of 1948

Democratic NominationDemocratic Nomination– Many not happy with HarryMany not happy with Harry– Factions developedFactions developed

Hubert Humphrey proposed civil rights plankHubert Humphrey proposed civil rights plankSouthern conservatives concerned with plank & Southern conservatives concerned with plank & form States Rights (Dixiecrats) with Thurmond as form States Rights (Dixiecrats) with Thurmond as nomineenomineeProgressives broke to back Henry WallaceProgressives broke to back Henry WallaceLiberals tried for Ike and formed ADALiberals tried for Ike and formed ADA

– Ironically party “settles” for TrumanIronically party “settles” for Truman

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Election of 1948 Election of 1948 contcont

Republican NominationRepublican Nomination– Very smooth conventionVery smooth convention– Gave Dewey another chanceGave Dewey another chance

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IssuesIssues

Unpopularity of TrumanUnpopularity of Truman

““Do-nothing” CongressDo-nothing” Congress

Whistle Stop Campaign & “Give’em Hell Whistle Stop Campaign & “Give’em Hell Harry!”Harry!”

Civil RightsCivil Rights– Harry campaigned in HarlemHarry campaigned in Harlem– Dewey ignored the issueDewey ignored the issue

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ResultsResults

Dewey Defeats Truman!Dewey Defeats Truman!

Harry shocks US!!!Harry shocks US!!!

Election of 1948Election of 1948

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Attempts at Domestic ReformAttempts at Domestic Reform

Pressed for civil rightsPressed for civil rights

Election not the mandate HT thoughtElection not the mandate HT thought– Cold War took priorityCold War took priority– S. Democrats opposed S. Democrats opposed

Did what he could with the powers he hadDid what he could with the powers he had– Created Civil Rights CommissionCreated Civil Rights Commission– Worked to end segregation in military & govt.Worked to end segregation in military & govt.

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Red Scare – Part IIRed Scare – Part II

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““Philosophy of thePhilosophy of theSavannah Morning News”Savannah Morning News”

““If it bled, it led.If it bled, it led.

If it was Red, it led.If it was Red, it led.

If it was black, it was in the back.” If it was black, it was in the back.”

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Truman Accused of Being Truman Accused of Being “Soft on Communism”“Soft on Communism”

Ordered loyalty checks for subversivesOrdered loyalty checks for subversives

Blacklists developedBlacklists developed

blak’list n., v., list-ed, -list-ing, = a list of persons who are under suspicion, disfavor, or censure, or who are not to be hired, served, or otherwise accepted. Random House Webster’s

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HUAC Began InvestigatingHUAC Began Investigating

Hollywood carefully carefully examinedexamined

Red Spy Queen Red Spy Queen (Elizabeth Bentley)(Elizabeth Bentley)

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Alger Hiss CaseAlger Hiss Case

Whitaker Chambers Whitaker Chambers made startling made startling accusationsaccusations

Told of his Told of his connections with connections with Alger Hiss (high Alger Hiss (high ranking State Dept. ranking State Dept. official) official)

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Hiss denied chargesHiss denied charges

Sued for slanderSued for slander

Hearing held before HUACHearing held before HUAC

Truman labels case a “red herring”Truman labels case a “red herring”

HUAC comes up emptyHUAC comes up empty

Richard Nixon persistedRichard Nixon persisted

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““pumpkin papers” prove to be keypumpkin papers” prove to be key

Statute of Limitations prevent espionage chargeStatute of Limitations prevent espionage charge

Hiss tried for perjury and found guiltyHiss tried for perjury and found guilty

Nixon became household nameNixon became household name

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The Red Scare – Part IIThe Red Scare – Part II

No exact cause, just several fearsNo exact cause, just several fears– StalinStalin– Communists gain ChinaCommunists gain China– Korean War situationKorean War situation– Soviets got the bomb sooner than expectedSoviets got the bomb sooner than expected

Rosenberg CaseRosenberg Case

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The Beginning of McCarthyismThe Beginning of McCarthyism

Sen. Joseph McCarthy took advantage of Sen. Joseph McCarthy took advantage of red scarered scare– Needed issue for re-election Needed issue for re-election – Asked how a strong USA could become so Asked how a strong USA could become so

fearful and helplessfearful and helpless

He answered own question – State Dept. He answered own question – State Dept. full of Communistsfull of Communists

Series of investigations beganSeries of investigations began

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Margaret Chase SmithMargaret Chase Smith

In response toIn response toRed ScareRed Scare

““Declaration ofDeclaration of Conscience” Conscience”

4 “canons” of free4 “canons” of freethought & speechthought & speech

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Anti-McCathryismAnti-McCathryism

Edward R. Murrow, Edward R. Murrow, CBS news anchorCBS news anchor

Challenged McCarthy Challenged McCarthy to “do the right thing”to “do the right thing”

Almost fired due to Almost fired due to public outcrypublic outcry

CBS lost viewers & revenueCBS lost viewers & revenue

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McCarran Act PassedMcCarran Act Passed

Communists must register w/ govt.Communists must register w/ govt.

Communists may be denied some Communists may be denied some jobs & travel jobs & travel

Denial of immigration to USDenial of immigration to US

FBI, under J. Edgar Hoover, became thorough FBI, under J. Edgar Hoover, became thorough enforcerenforcer

1 The Truman Years: Fair Deal & Domestic Front (1945 - 1952)

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