Slide 1
Harding-Coolidge-- the antithesis of progressivismThe
Conservative InterludeThe Antithesis of Progressivism --
Harding was the antithesis of progressive ideology; he was the
exact opposite of the high minded notions of Roosevelt and Wilson.
The country needed a break from progressivism. That is why Harding
came in. His theme was if you elect me, I am going to take the
country back to normalcy. When he comes into office, he has a huge
landslide. He captured both houses of congress. He serves a little
over 2 years and dies of a heart attack (apparently). There was a
lot o corruption and graft in the Harding administration. Calvin
Coolidge was his successor. Coolidge went down in American history
as someone who did pretty much nothing of any significance in the
white house. Herbert Hoover-- Hoover is the embodiment of business
cultureThe Conservative InterludePro business --
Hoover is also the embodiment of the business culture. Hoovers
impulse is to use American government not as Wilson did, but as a
hand maiden for American business. If you build wealth in the
business community, it will trickle down. Coolidge once said, the
business of America is business. (Coolidge and Hoover had the same
outlook).Herbert Hoover-- prosperity in the 1920s (roaring
twenties)-- national consumer culture-- toasters, refrigerators,
national advertising, (is this really what makes us American?)--
millions of Americans were not putting their savings into the stock
marketThe Conservative InterludeHerbert HooverThe Conservative
Interludedip in business cycle-- Germany cant make good on its war
debt-- business cycle was ready for a down-turn anywayHoovers
prescription-- dont worry; it will take care of itself1/18/2007(C)
Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.5No Chicken Little
Hoover tries to rally the public and calm the fears. What he
says is: dont worry; the fundamentals of our economy are sound. Our
economic institutions are the greatest in the world; our system of
free enterprise capitalism will correct itself. Weve been through
these business cycles before. There was a famous panic in 1873;
there was a panic in the 1890s; it will eventually correct itself.
Prosperity, he said, is right around the corner. His campaign was
based on the idea that there would be a chicken in every pot and a
car in every garage. Herbert HooverThe Conservative Interludedip in
business cycle-- Germany cant make good on its war debt-- business
cycle was ready for a down-turn anywayHoovers prescription-- dont
worry; it will take care of itself(what Hoover and the others
represented)1/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.7Laissez
faire
What these presidents represented was a return to the laissez
faire era of the late 19th century. And a return to the notion of,
yes, the president is important, but the Congress is at least
equally as important, and what is most important is the private
sector.1/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.8
Something will come along that will fundamentally change
American politics
statistics-- massive collapse of the economic systemThe Great
DepressionThe great depression -- From 1929 to 1932, stock prices
in America fell 75%. 25% of the labor force was unemployed. Farm
income was slashed. Corporate profits were in the red. The banking
system collapsed and real per capita gross national product dropped
by 1/3. (Today we consider it a great crises if GNP drops 1
percent). When Hoover is running for re-election, more than 25% of
the country remains unemployedStatistics -- Great depression and
new deal: the stock market lost almost 90% of its value (between
1929-1933), and industrial production fell by more than 50%. 15
million workers -- almost a third of the workforce -- lost their
jobs. In 1919, farm income was 17 billion. By 1932 it was 5
billion.capitalism broke-- this was not simply a recession-- the
banking-system collapsed(imagine what the American economy would be
like if the system of finance collapsed today)The Great Depression
Hooverville -- "Shack cities" developed -- when that happened,
people termed it "Hooverville." Reporters quote: the hungry,
falling upon heaps of refuse and digging it with sticks and
hands.1930 midterms-- midterm elections showed what was coming--
Democrats gained control of the House-- just missed gaining control
of the Senate by one seat
The Great Depressionhis philosophyFranklin Delano
RooseveltPolitical philosophy A reporter asked him, "are you a
communist," FDR said "no." The reporter asked, "are you a
capitalist," FDR said "no." The reporter asked, "are you a
socialist," and FDR said "no." And the frustrated reporter said,
"then what is your philosophy?" And FDR said, "philosophy?
philosophy? I'm a Christian and Im a Democrat. -- Endicott
PeabodyFranklin Delano RooseveltBoarding School Headmaster
FDR had been enrolled in a boarding school when he was young,
and the headmaster, Endicott Peabody, instilled in his students
with good character, manly Christian virtues, and service to
humanity. his philosophypolioFranklin Delano Roosevelt-- polio at
age 39 (1921) also gave him an empathy for the underprivileged--
reporters would not show him in his wheel chair or ask him about
his affliction (considered taboo)progressive DemocratFranklin
Delano Roosevelt-- helped lead a group of insurgent Democrats
against Tammany Hall-- early viewsEarly views--
And in these (early) days, he was a supporter of women's
suffrage and farmers and workers, though he was not a leader in
that movement, and he also supported the popular election of
senators, conservation, and local option prohibition.1932
electionFranklin Delano Roosevelt-- Interesting strategy: the
country needs experimentation(note how odd that is) analogy to the
war powersremember Wilson and the World War I?(nationalized
industries, took over sectors of the economy)1/18/2007(C) Copyright
Sean Wilson. 2007.17Roosevelt on the campaign trail:-- FDR had an
interesting way of campaigning against the depression. He would use
military language: it is an all-out war against the depression. He
would help the common person, end prohibition, bring relief to
farmers and workers, increase benefits to business, to offer
immediate relief/public works to the unemployed, and he promised to
get this all done with a balanced budget. Roosevelt on the campaign
trail:-- the country needs bold and persistent experimentation to
restore the shattered economy.1932 electionFranklin Delano
Roosevelt-- The Election Results: a huge realignment: 1/18/2007(C)
Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.19
Inaugural AddressThe First TermInaugural address: This country
is asking for action, and that he was calling for broad executive
powers, the same kind that would be given to him if this country
had been invaded and they were at war. That this was the type of
crises that they were in, and he needed to have broad powers to do
what needed to be done to solve the problem. the only thing you
have to fear is fear itselfFirst 100 daysThe First Term-- the most
active 100 days in the history of the presidency(will never be
repeated again in American history)Basic Idea:
1. Banking reform2. repealed prohibition3. relief and public
works programs4. recovery programs for industry and agriculture5.
welfare state programs1/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean Wilson.
2007.221.The federal deposit insurance corporation (FDIC)2.
Emergency Farm Mortgage Act3. Emergency Homeowners Loan
Corporation4. Federal Emergency Relief Association (assistance to
needy Americans)5. Civil Works Administration, Civilian
Conservation Core and the Public Works Administration (programs for
the unemployed).6. Federal Surplus Relief Corporation, distributed
food to the poor7. Tennessee Valley Authority (provided electricity
and economic development for quite a number of states in the
Tennessee river area)8. The Security Act, followed by the Security
and Exchange Commission (began the regulation of the securities
market. The stock and bond markets had been notoriously
unregulated. irregularities in those markets had contributed, many
thought, to the great depression. Joseph Kennedy was the first
chairman of this commission).9. The agricultural adjustment
administration (AAA) and the national recovery administration (NRA)
were designed to break the depression in agriculture and industry.
The AAA reduced agricultural production in order to boost prices
10. the NRA suspended the anti trust laws to authorize the
negotiation of compensation, production, and pricing agreements
enforced by the authority of the federal govt.tax and spend
politiciansThe First Term-- new phrase invented by FDR insidersTax
and spend politicians -- This began a new era of criticism of
democrats for being tax and spend politicians. It is a little
different though: what they do is "tax and tax and spend and spend
and get elected and get elected." The idea: the benefits go to
people who turn around and vote for them as a functional exchange.
It is sort of a larger scale kind of Tammany Hall in some respects
(without the corruption). By the way, that tax and spend quote came
from a democrat inside FDR administration. Keynesian EconomicsThe
First Term-- FDR initially believed in balanced budgets(Keynesian
economics comes later in the term)federal spendingThe First Term--
-- Still only 8 billion dollars at the end of the first term(keep
that figure in your head for now)second New DealThe First Term--
Social Security Actthe Social Security Act, which created the
modern social security system, provided old age pensions,
unemployment compensation, and financial assistance to the disabled
and for mothers with dependent children (it established the
principle that Americans had certain entitlements from government.
The idea was that this act was providing assistance to those who
could not fend for themselves in the dog eat dog free market world.
The social security act was financed by payroll taxes, and may have
impeded economic recovery a bit;second New DealThe First Term--
More serious regulation of utilities-- significant progressive
taxation policy (tax the rich)-- National Labor Relations Act the
right to strike (considered illegal prior to this) a perpetual
federal forum for resolving labor disputesThe National Labor
Relations Act -- [the Wagner Act] created a National Labor
Relations Board, which gave collective bargaining and organization
of workers the sanction and protection of the federal government
(this would forever submit the loyalty of the labor movement to the
democratic party).second New DealThe First Term-- work programs for
the employable-- entitlement programs for people who could not
workThe Works Progress Administration -- providing remunerative
work for more than 3 million Americans. These workers would be the
most loyal of the fdr voters, leaving republicans to charge that he
was buying his votes;how FDR changed American politicsThe First
Term-- No other election victory in American history every
experienced two realignments successively in the same direction--
The gift that kept giving-- the data 1/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean
Wilson. 2007.30 1929 1931 1933 1935 1937House Dems 163 216 313 332
333House Rep: 267 218 117 103 89Senate Dems 39 47 59 69 75Senate
Rep 56 48 36 25 171/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.31 1929
1931 1933 1935 1937House Dems 163 216 313 332 333House Rep: 267 218
117 103 89Senate Dems 39 47 59 69 75Senate Rep 56 48 36 25
171/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.32 1929 1931 1933 1935
1937House Dems 163 216 313 332 333House Rep: 267 218 117 103
89Senate Dems 39 47 59 69 75Senate Rep 56 48 36 25 171/18/2007(C)
Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.33 1929 1931 1933 1935 1937House Dems
163 216 313 332 333House Rep: 267 218 117 103 89Senate Dems 39 47
59 69 75Senate Rep 56 48 36 25 171/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean
Wilson. 2007.34 1929 1931 1933 1935 1937House Dems 163 216 313 332
333House Rep: 267 218 117 103 89Senate Dems 39 47 59 69 75Senate
Rep 56 48 36 25 171/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.35 1929
1931 1933 1935 1937House Dems 163 216 313 332 333House Rep: 267 218
117 103 89Senate Dems 39 47 59 69 75Senate Rep 56 48 36 25
171/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.36 1929 1931 1933 1935
1937House Dems 163 216 313 332 333House Rep: 267 218 117 103
89Senate Dems 39 47 59 69 75Senate Rep 56 48 36 25 171/18/2007(C)
Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.37 1929 1931 1933 1935 1937House Dems
163 216 313 332 333House Rep: 267 218 117 103 89Senate Dems 39 47
59 69 75Senate Rep 56 48 36 25 171/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean
Wilson. 2007.38 1929 1931 1933 1935 1937House Dems 163 216 313 332
333House Rep: 267 218 117 103 89Senate Dems 39 47 59 69 75Senate
Rep 56 48 36 25 171/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.39 1929
1931 1933 1935 1937House Dems 163 216 313 332 333House Rep: 267 218
117 103 89Senate Dems 39 47 59 69 75Senate Rep 56 48 36 25
171/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.40 1929 1931 1933 1935
1937House Dems 163 216 313 332 333House Rep: 267 218 117 103
89Senate Dems 39 47 59 69 75Senate Rep 56 48 36 25 171/18/2007(C)
Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.41 1929 1931 1933 1935 1937House Dems
163 216 313 332 333House Rep: 267 218 117 103 89Senate Dems 39 47
59 69 75Senate Rep 56 48 36 25 171/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean
Wilson. 2007.42 1929 1931 1933 1935 1937House Dems 163 216 313 332
333House Rep: 267 218 117 103 89Senate Dems 39 47 59 69 75Senate
Rep 56 48 36 25 171/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.43 1929
1931 1933 1935 1937House Dems 163 216 313 332 333House Rep: 267 218
117 103 89Senate Dems 39 47 59 69 75Senate Rep 56 48 36 25
171/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.44 1929 1931 1933 1935
1937House Dems 163 216 313 332 333House Rep: 267 218 117 103
89Senate Dems 39 47 59 69 75Senate Rep 56 48 36 25 171/18/2007(C)
Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.45 1929 1931 1933 1935 1937House Dems
163 216 313 332 333House Rep: 267 218 117 103 89Senate Dems 39 47
59 69 75Senate Rep 56 48 36 25 171/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean
Wilson. 2007.46 1929 1931 1933 1935 1937House Dems 163 216 313 332
333House Rep: 267 218 117 103 89Senate Dems 39 47 59 69 75Senate
Rep 56 48 36 25 171/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.47 1929
1931 1933 1935 1937House Dems 163 216 313 332 333House Rep: 267 218
117 103 89Senate Dems 39 47 59 69 75Senate Rep 56 48 36 25
171/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.48 1929 1931 1933 1935
1937House Dems 163 216 313 332 333House Rep: 267 218 117 103
89Senate Dems 39 47 59 69 75Senate Rep 56 48 36 25 171/18/2007(C)
Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.49 1929 1931 1933 1935 1937House Dems
163 216 313 332 333House Rep: 267 218 117 103 89Senate Dems 39 47
59 69 75Senate Rep 56 48 36 25 171/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean
Wilson. 2007.50 1929 1931 1933 1935 1937House Dems 163 216 313 332
333House Rep: 267 218 117 103 89Senate Dems 39 47 59 69 75Senate
Rep 56 48 36 25 17Consistent gains Democrats keep
winning1/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.51
1/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.52FDR --
ConclusionsEconomic impact Wages rose, income distribution
improved, unemployment was wiped out, real per capital GNP rose by
some 50%. WW2 brought a degree of prosperity to the us that was not
even seen in the roaring 20s. It accelerated the growth of a large
middle class and it increased the employment of women because men
were drafted to fight.1/18/2007(C) Copyright Sean Wilson. 2007.535.
Transformation in political ideology-- The old American hegemony
dies:-- Agrarian Ideology had become second place in the aftermath
of the industrial revolution (Laissez Faire)-- Now Laissez Faire
was out in the aftermath of the New Deal -- even conservative
politicians exist in a post-Roosevelt world Eisenhower, Goldwater,
Nixon Reagan Bush I and II-- conservatism is more a reaction
against great society liberalism than FDR progressivismHow New Deal
Ideology Changed the Presidency