Domestic Politics and PolicyDomestic Politics and Policy

27.327.3

What Makes a Great President?What Makes a Great President?

Harry S TrumanHarry S Truman

ReconversionReconversion– Social & Economic Social & Economic

shift from wartime to shift from wartime to peacetimepeacetime

– Successes and TrialsSuccesses and Trials

Taft-Hartley ActTaft-Hartley Act– Gov’t intervention Gov’t intervention

with certain strikeswith certain strikes

Truman’s Fair DealTruman’s Fair Deal

Truman’s DesiresTruman’s DesiresFull EmploymentFull Employment

Raise the minimum wageRaise the minimum wage

Raise unemployment Raise unemployment compensationcompensation

Provide housing assistanceProvide housing assistance

How does Congress How does Congress

respond to Truman’srespond to Truman’s

Plans?Plans?

Civil RightsCivil RightsTruman’s DesiresTruman’s Desires– Equal Opportunity for all citizensEqual Opportunity for all citizens– Anti-Lynching federal lawAnti-Lynching federal law– End Poll TaxesEnd Poll Taxes

CongressCongress– OpposedOpposed– 2222ndnd Amendment Amendment

Truman AchievementsTruman Achievements– Ended discrimination for gov’t positionsEnded discrimination for gov’t positions– Desegregated the militaryDesegregated the military

Election of 1948Election of 1948

Truman vs DeweyTruman vs Dewey

Why did America Like Ike?Why did America Like Ike?

Talented Talented DiplomatDiplomat

Military Military experienceexperience

Easygoing Easygoing charmcharm

““Checkers” SpeechCheckers” Speech

Richard Nixon, Richard Nixon, Eisenhower’s VPEisenhower’s VP– Accused of taking Accused of taking

illegal donationsillegal donations

Nixon’s defenseNixon’s defense– Took one gift. . .a Took one gift. . .a

dog, which his dog, which his daughter named daughter named “Checkers”“Checkers”

Eisenhower’s LeadershipEisenhower’s Leadership““I am not one of those desk-pounding I am not one of those desk-pounding types that like to stick out his jaw and look types that like to stick out his jaw and look like he is bossing the show”like he is bossing the show”

““I’ll tell you what leadership is. It’s I’ll tell you what leadership is. It’s persuasion—and conciliation—and persuasion—and conciliation—and education—and patience. It’s long, slow education—and patience. It’s long, slow tough work. That’s the only kind of tough work. That’s the only kind of leadership I know or believe in—or will leadership I know or believe in—or will practice”practice”

Eisenhower’s LeadershipEisenhower’s Leadership

Ike’s Policy: “I am no politician…”Ike’s Policy: “I am no politician…”– Abroad: Abroad:

Strong defender of American interestsStrong defender of American interests

Endorsed military strategies of nuclear Endorsed military strategies of nuclear weapons over conventional armiesweapons over conventional armies

– Home:Home:Restraint in Gov’t actions and spendingRestraint in Gov’t actions and spending

Brought stability and reassurance Brought stability and reassurance during the Cold Warduring the Cold War

Modern RepublicanismModern Republicanism

““Conservative when it comes to Conservative when it comes to money, liberal when it comes to money, liberal when it comes to human beingshuman beings– Favored Big BusinessFavored Big Business– Attempts to balance the budget Attempts to balance the budget

backfiredbackfired

Technology on the RiseTechnology on the Rise

NASANASA– National Aeronautics and Space National Aeronautics and Space

AdministrationAdministration

National Defense Education ActNational Defense Education Act– Improve Science and Math education in Improve Science and Math education in

American schoolsAmerican schools