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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