the battle for national reform
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The Battle for National Reform. Chapter 22. Theodore Roosevelt and the Modern Presidency. The “loveable” president Changed the powers, role and perception of the president The Accidental President “that damned cowboy!” Mark Hanna reputation of substance, rather than of style - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Theodore Roosevelt and the Modern Presidency
The “loveable” president Changed the powers, role and perception of
the president The Accidental President
“that damned cowboy!” Mark Hanna reputation of substance, rather than of style New York Legislature: energy among lethargy Rancher and peace authority in Dakota
Territories San Juan Hill (useless but heroic)
Theodore Roosevelt
Never rebelled against leaders of his party
TR philosophy on reform / gov’t Reform = protecting the gov’t from more
radical challenges Gov’t = not an agent of a particular
interest, but as the mediator of public good with the president at its center
Government, Capital and Labor
TR allied himself with progressives who urged regulation, but not destruction, of the trusts
wanted to investigate the activities of corporations and publish them believed an educated public would eliminate
most corporate abuses gov’t could legislate those that remained Department of Commerce and Labor
TR: Trust Buster? 1902 ordered the Justice
Department to invoke the Sherman Antitrust Act against Northern Securities Company (J.P Morgan) J.P. Morgan “fix it up” 1904 Supreme Court ordered the NSC Roosevelt assured Morgan that he did not
wish to dissolve trusts 40 anti-trust suits filed during the
TR presidency but no serious commitment to
reverse the prevailing trend toward economic concentration
J.P Morgan
TR: Friend of Labor?
1902 United Mine Workers Strike threatened to send in
troops federal arbitration awards
10% wage increase and 9 hour day
no recognition of union TR viewed himself as a
champion of management and labor
The Square Deal
Through skillful politicking, Roosevelt wins re-election in 1904
After re-election, free to display extent and limits of reform
Hepburn Railroad Regulation Act of 1906 sought to restore regulatory authority to government (empower the I.C.C.) cautious Senator Robert LaFollette never
would forgive Roosevelt
The Square Deal Continued
eight-hour day for workers broader compensation for victims of
industrial accidents inheritance and income taxes regulation of the stock market TR criticized conservatives who obstructed
these programs Lead to stalemate in agenda Widening gap between president TR and the
conservative members of his party
Conservation
TR life time sportsman and naturalist, was the first president to take an active interest in the new and struggling American conservation movement
Spent four days hiking in the Sierras with John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club Sierra Club: “aesthetic” value of forest TR administration: supported rational and
efficient human use of the wilderness… “scientific management”
Gifford Pinchot
Gifford Pinchot was TR chief forester… 1907 worked furiously to seize all the forests and many of the water power sites till in the public domain before a Conservative Congress restricted president’s authority.
Conservation Continued
TR’s administration: established government’s role as “manager” of the continuing development of the wilderness
Pleasing the opposition: Newlands Act… provided federal funds for the construction of dams, reservoirs, and canals in the West open new lands for cultivation cheap electric power greater impact would not be felt for twenty years
later
The Panic of 1907
despite reforms gov’t had little control over the economy
Same three mistakes as 1893 supply production
out runs the capacity of demand
banking system inadequate
financial mismanagement
Roosevelt falsely blamed for “mad” economic policies
The Panic of 1907 Continued
Roosevelt and Morgan make a deal: Morgan “props up shaky financial institutions” in return for protection from anti-trust action
TR does not run again in 1908 conservative backlash, might not have gotten
party bid panic of 1907 promised not to run again in 1904 retired from public life, briefly, at age 50
The Troubled Succession
Hand-picked by Roosevelt to succeed him Attention to law and detail instead of
aggressive like Roosevelt Came to office as the “darling” of both
progressives and conservatives… soon found he could not please both
Taft and the Progressives
Payne-Aldrich Tariff called Congress to
a special session to lower protective tariff rates
Taft made no effort to influence Congress, arguing it was unconstitutional for him to do so
P-A Tariff was weak and angered progressives
The Pinchot-Ballinger Controversy Taft replaces Roosevelt’s secretary of the interior who was a
conservationist with a conservative corporate lawyer, Richard Ballinger
Ballinger removes 1 million acres of public forests and mineral reserves to private enterprises
Louis Glavis, Interior Department Secretary, finds evidence that Ballinger was selling areas of Alaska for personal profit
Glavis, shows case to Gifford Pinchot (still head of Forest Service) and Pinchot takes case to president
Ballinger cleared by Taft’s attorney general Glavis fired by Taft
Pinchot, not happy takes the case to the Press and asks Congress to investigate the issue Pinchot fired for insubordination Conservative Congressional Committee exonerates Ballinger
Symbolic Taft separates himself from Roosevelt supporters completely Big business vs. progressive managed control
The Return of Roosevelt
Gone for two years on an African Safari Return to America, a major public event:
turned down an invitation to the White House to meet with Pinchot
Announced a public speaking tour believed Taft had “completely twisted around”
his policies believed that he alone was capable of reuniting
the Republican Party
New Nationalism
made clear he had moved a considerable way from the cautious conservatism of the first years of his presidency
social justice only possible through a strong federal government
inheritance taxes workers compensation in
industrial accidents regulation of the labor of women
and children firmer regulation of corporations
Spreading Insurgency 1910 Congressional Elections
Conservatives ousted, Progressives elected
Democrats beginning to make their mark in Congress
Roosevelt says he does not want to run for President, but rather urge Taft to return to progressivism… two things changed his mind 1911 antitrust decision by the
Taft Administration: TR takes it personally
1912 Progressive Candidate LaFollette suffers a public breakdown in response to his daughter’s illness
“Fighting Bob”
The Republican Schism
Roosevelt wins almost every primary election at the individual state level
Republican Party leaders override the primary and refuse to admit Roosevelt’s delegates
Roosevelt marches out of the convention with his delegates
In August of that year, Roosevelt creates a new Progressive Party to nominate him as president
“fit as a bull moose” = Progressive becomes “Bull Moose” Party
Woodrow Wilson and The New Freedom
The Rise of Wilson Born and raised in the
South Author of books on the
American political system President of Princeton
University 1902 (New Jersey)
Governor of New Jersey 1910
Reputation for progressivism and unwillingness to compromise
Woodrow Wilson
Election of 1912
traditional Republicans split Taft – Republican Party Roosevelt – Progressive / Bull Moose Party
Roosevelt Impaired Many Republicans refused to leave the party Roosevelt shot by a would be assassin during the
last weeks of the elections Democrats nominated a strong candidate
Wilson’s “New Freedom” vs. Roosevelt’s “New Nationalism” two opposing progressive perspectives proper response to monopolies was to destroy them
(Wilson / Brandies) rather to regulate them (Roosevelt)
The Scholar as President
Wilson more bold and forceful that both Roosevelt and Taft demanded fierce loyalty used Presidential powers to mold together a
coalition of conservatives and progressives who would support his program
Democrat majorities in both houses helped his platform elected candidates realized they would have to
enact progressive reform to stay elected
The Scholar as President Continued
Tariffs substantial lowering of the protective tariff Underwood-Simmons Tariff
many Americans believed this act introduced real competition into American markets
help break the power of trusts graduated income tax
imposed a 1% tax on individuals and corporations earning over $4,000
ii. rates went up to 6% on incomes over $500,000
The Scholar as President Continued Again
Banking Reform gov’t would have substantial control at the national
level bankers would retain control at the local level
Federal Reserve Act = most important piece of domestic legislation during Wilson’s administration created 12 regional banks, each to be controlled by
the individual banks of it’s district new paper currency: Federal Reserve Notes central institutions able to shift funds quickly into
troubled areas
Problem of the Trusts
During 1912 Campaign, Wilson promised to attack economic concentration (aka monopolistic trusts) but his philosophy began to change into one of regulation, like Roosevelt
Federal Trade Commission Act
created a regulatory agency that would help businesses determine in advance whether their actions would be acceptable to the government
would have authority to launch prosecutions against “unfair trade practices”
increased government’s regulatory authority significantly
Clayton Antitrust Act
originally reflected the ideals of 1912 campaign
Wilson did not back it strongly, weakened in Congress
Promises of 1912 election never materialized
Wilson’s conclusion: supervision over dismemberment
Retreat and Advance Fall of 1914 Wilson decides Reform Movement is complete and
that agitation for reform would end refused to support the movement for national woman’s
suffrage condoned re-imposition of segregation in the agencies of
federal government dismissed efforts from Congress to support new reform
legislation Congressional elections of 1914 shattered President’s
complacency: Democrats ousted by re-united Republicans With 1916 on his mind, Wilson began to push for a second flurry
of reforms Nominated Louis Brandies to the Supreme Court Supported a measure to make it easier for farmers to receive
credit Workers compensation for federal employees Keating-Owen Act: first federal law regulating child labor /
struck down by Supreme Court
The Big Stick”: America and The World,
1901 – 1917 (Pre-WWI PPT)
Little public involvement in country’s international affairs prior to World War I
Roosevelt and “Civilization”
TR believed in the value and importance of using American power in the world (Proverb: “Speak softly, but carry a big stick”)
Clear distinction between “civilized” and “uncivilized” nations civilized = Anglo-Saxon or Teutonic uncivilized = non-white, Latin or Slavic
Economic development also important American interests civilized = producers of industrial goods uncivilized = sources of raw materials relationship between the two viewed as vital
Roosevelt believed in order to preserve order and stability, build a strong navy
Protecting the Open Door in Asia
TR was concerned with military tensions between Japan, Russia, Germany, France and Asia
Mediated conflict between Russia and Japan in 1905 part of deal stated US could trade freely in the region Roosevelt wins Nobel Peace Prize in 1906
Russian Fleet destroyed by Japan… Japan begins to exert authority in Pacific
Domestic issues extension of Chinese Exclusion Act “Oriental School” Hearst Papers: “Yellow Peril”
“The Great White Fleet” on world tour
The Iron-Fisted Neighbor
Principal Sphere of interest: Latin America 1902 Venezuela: European powers converge
off Venezuelan coast, TR uses threat of US naval power to force Germany to withdrawal
“Roosevelt Corollary”: TR states that US has the right to intervene in domestic affairs of its neighbor if they proved unable to maintain order on their own Dominican Republic: debts to Europe Cuba: Platt Amendment
The Panama Canal Roosevelt: determined to achieve dream of
connecting Atlantic to Pacific Original site was Nicaragua French originally tried and failed in Panama…
uneven ground would require locks US chose Panama when French lowered their price
of their prior holdings from $109 mil. To $40 mil. 1901 Hay-Pauncefote Treaty eliminated Britain from
the deal Trouble with closing deal with Columbia
John Hay and suspicious deal with Columbian official
TR upset when Columbians change their mind, calls them “inefficient bandits” and “blackmailers”
The Panama Canal Continued
US and French organize and support revolution in Panama U.S.S Nashville off the coast in Panama to
“maintain order” US military presence kept Colombia from
suppressing the rebellion Independent Nation of Panama officially
recognized by the US 1914 Panama Canal opens TR exclaims “I
took the Canal Zone and let Congress debate!”
Taft and “Dollar Diplomacy” Taft also worked to expand the nation’s economic interest
overseas, but little interest in world stability P.C. Knox worked to expand US investments into less
developed regions Failure and greed of Taft-Knox diplomacy: Asia
Taft expands America’s economic influence in Manchurian region, counter to Roosevelt policy
Constructing railroads Russians loose alliance with Japanese and American
railroad project quickly collapses Failure and greed of Taft-Knox diplomacy: Caribbean
Nicaragua 1909, American corporate inspired revolt American seize customs houses Knox encourages American bankers to offer substantial
loans to the new government, thus increasing US financial leverage
Diplomacy and Morality
Dominican Republic Mexico
Porfirio Diaz, corrupt leader in Mexico, but friendly to American Businessmen
Victoriano Huerta seizes leadership, Wilson calls him a “government of butchers”
Battle at Veracruz: US on brink of war Carranza takes leadership, unfriendly to US US supports coup by Poncho Villa, then abandons PV retaliates: attack on US soil General John Pershing chases Villa and attacks Mexico
on Mexican soil Never find Villa