THE PRESIDENT’S BACKGROUND

The Truman Administration

Macro Concepts

Power

Conflict

Leadership

Change

Political Spectrum

Reactionary

Radical Liberal Conservative

1.

of, pertaining to, marked by, or favoring reaction, esp. extreme conservatism or rightism in politics; opposing political or social change.

–adjective

1.

disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change.

–adjective

3.

favoring drastic political, economic, or social reforms: radical ideas; radical and anarchistic ideologues.

–adjectie

1.

favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs.

Harry S Truman

How did Truman’s background make him ideally suited for the Presidency, and How did Truman’s background handicap him as President?

Micro Concepts

Work Ethic

Education

Character

Politics

Truman’s Background

Father was a farmer, grew up with the work ethic of a farmer

Poor eyesight prevented him from participating in many sports

In National Guard prior to, and Artillery captain in WWI

Led men from all walks of life

They loved him

Truman’s Background

Failed businessman after WWINo college educationWas VERY well readElected by a political machine to the SenateAlways felt he had to fight that tarnishEarned a rep as tough and fair

Micro Concepts Revisited

Work Ethic

Education

Character

Politics

Truman as President

What were the massive challenges that Truman faced when he became the President?

Presidential Micro Concepts

Fear

Unemployment

Labor

Civil Rights

Red Scare

Centrism

Fear!

Fear of a new Depression (round two)WWI = 2 income families = cost-plus

contracts = war bonds = end to depression but...

People did NOT want this to happen - try to put policies and agencies in place to mitigate against it

Jobs

Full employment 99+% but ...many are held by women

14,000,000 men are coming home, what will they do for a living?

GI Bill of RightsMoral obligation to American citizens to provide X, Y, and Z

War & Social Climate

Shotgun marriages Rise in illegitimacy

Women become bread-winners Women change their ideas about their roles in the

familyDivorce rate spikes in late 1940’s

Taft-Hartley Act

Big blow to Unions, very conservative anti-New Deal

proposed a cooling off periodoutlawed closed shopsmany states passed right-to-work laws

Radical or Reactionary?

Truman & Civil Rights

President’s Committee on Civil Rights

called for desegregation in society,

anti-lynching legislation, end to poll taxes,

1948 Truman desegregated the armed forces by Executive Order and forbade racial discrimination in federal jobs

Jackie Robinson

Radical or Reactionary?

Radical or Reactionary?

or...Progressive?

or...Progressive?

Succession & Terms

Needed a way to succeed the Presidency in case of a nuclear war created a lineage to succeed in case of govt

decapitation22nd Amendment

Limited President to two full terms was aimed at FDR’s term of office

Liberal or Conservative?

Liberal or Conservative?

Early Red Scare

American Fears: spread of communism, nuclear war, communist infiltration, fear of new depression -- pols played off these fearsSmith Act and overthrowing govtHUAC indicts Alger Hiss in 1947

•HUAC persecutes liberals, Hollywood, New Dealers, etc

Truman’s loyalty program -- gave FBI authority to go after “reds”, ID’d 90 disloyal organizations

•Loyalty Review Board -- investigated thousands of federal employees, loyalty oaths issued

Radical or Reactionary?

Radical or Reactionary?

1948 Election

Democrats and Dixiecrats

Truman wanted to flesh out New Deal programs

Republicans wanted to dismantle New Deal and anti-labor

Dewey Defeats Truman?

Truman’s victory came from those groups that were threatened by Reps

The Fair Deal

Truman attempted to add to the New Deal did raise minimum wage, provide for

public housing, and extend SS Was only able to maintain the New Deal,

not add to it New Deal becomes accepted by both

parties

The Vital Center

Political consensus developedThree components to “vital center”:

Anti-CommunismBelief in econ growth curing problemsPolitical pluralism -- a variety of ideas can compete in America

The “center” carries elections through 1964

Essential Question Revisited

What were the massive challenges that Truman faced when he became the President?