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The Cold War
President Harry S. Truman
1945 - 1952
Truman as President April 12, 1945
NOT FDR No $$, no college, failed business
‘34- Senator
Decisive, blunt, loyal, confident, self-assured
What’s the plan? New Deal - New Dealers
Sept. 6, ‘45- peace program = larger New Deal program
Twenty-One points expansion of unemployment ins., higher min. wage, slum clearance, public works, regional development of river-valleys
End of War = Let’s Go Home! Rapid demobilization
‘47- 12 m. 1.5 m. 600k – ‘50
Baby BOOM!
End of war peacetime economy depression? Shock absorbers = unemployment ins., Social Security, DEMAND
GI Bill (Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of ‘44)
Education, vocational training, loans (houses, business)
VA service expands
Inflation Wartime controls = frozen wages, prices, no labor strikes
Post-war prices high corporate profits high labor unions strike (‘46)
Strikes of ’46 & “price-wage spirals”
United Steelworkers Settlement = Increase in wage (18.5 c/hour)? Increase in price.
United Mine Workers Gov. seized mines, agreed to union demands
Railroads Gov. seized RRs
Office of Price Admin. Through ‘46- gradual ending of rationing, limited restraint on price
controls
Partisan Cooperation & Conflict Employment Act of ’46
Council of Econ. Advisors recs on gov. spending, advise President
Joint Committee on Econ. Report- propose legislation
Continued labor issues Strikers & public fault Truman
Dems & Repubs Henry Wallace (D) fired
VP- FDR, Sec. of Commerce
Commies abound! (R)
“To Err is Truman”
Mid-term election success
“The New Deal is kaput.”
Taft-Hartley Labor Act (‘47) To limit power of unions- no CLOSED shops, UNION shops, outlaw $$ to
campaigns, no jurisdictional strikes, OATH of loyalty to the U.S., “cooling off” period = 80 days of no striking
Truman? VETO Won back favor from unions
Passes anyway
“Right to Work” laws and states
…whether in union or not
Truman vs. Republicans on tax cuts Veto!
Why? Pay down debt!
Truman + Republicans on gov. reorganization National Security Act (‘47)
Nat’l Military Establishment
Headed by SOD + subcabinet
National Security Council
Joint Chiefs of Staff
CIA
The Cold War Begins
Building the UN Alliance disintegrated, but. . .
4/25/45- San Francisco, Charter of the UN
General Assembly + Security Council (US, USSR, GB, FR, PRC + 10)
Int’l peace & security, investigations, settlements, references to Int’l Crt, military action
Trying the War Criminals Crimes against peace, humanity, & established rules of war
German & Japanese officials Nuremberg
21 on trial- 3 acquitted, 11 executed, 3 life in prison, 4 prison
Tokyo
25 on trial- 7 executed, 16 life in prison, 2 prison
Smaller int’l tribunals tried others
Differences with the Soviets Orthodox view
Stalin + Soviets attempt to dominate globe US defense of democratic/capitalist values
Revisionist view Truman + economic imperialists aggressive foreign policy for US
spheres of influence tension
Issue? Deteriorating relationship w/ Soviets prior to 1945
Signs of Trouble Spring ‘45- Soviet installation of compliant govs in E. Europe = violation
of Yalta
Puppet regimes in Poland, Romania
The Iron Curtain “What is to happen about Europe? An iron curtain is drawn
down upon [the Russian] front. We do not know what is going on behind [it].] . . Surely it is vital now to come to an understanding with Russia, or see where we are with her, before we weaken our armies mortally.” -Churchill, May 12, 1945
Goodwill gesture = removal of US forces from Soviet occupation zone (Yalta) Why? Japan remains!
Fall of Eastern Europe Soviet armed forces = difficulty for non-Communists to gain influence
silence, prison, exile, execution
Council of Foreign Ministers- ’47 Italy, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Finland
Soviet control of E
But what about Yalta?
SOS James Byrnes (‘45)- possession of new weapon “might well put us in a position to dictate our own terms at the end of the war.” increase tension, no intimidation
Containment ‘46 – ’47: international pace impossible “under the present
capitalist development of the world economy.” – Stalin George Kennan to Byrne
Soviets are “committed fanatically to the belief that. . . It is desirable and necessary that the internal harmony of our society be disrupted, our traditional way of life be destroyed, the international authority of our state be broken, if Soviet power is to be secure.” -1946
Kennan response to Soviets in Foreign Affairs (‘47) Prediction of Soviets desire to expand into “every nook and cranny
available.”
Insecurity caution, attempt to reduce risk
US response? CONTAINMENT
Fear Soviet desire for power outside eastern Europe
The Truman Doctrine Soviet desire to access to Med. (trade, defense) pressure on Turkey
for naval base
‘46- Civil War in Greece GB backed gov. vs. Commuist-faction
‘47- GB can’t bear burder of aiding Greece
March 12, ’47- Truman asks for $400 million in aid to Greece/Turkey Aid justified by belief that US must support “free peoples who are resisting
attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.” –Truman
Greek-Turkish aid bill passed $659 spent, Turkey stabilized, Greece defeat of Commie insurrection
US now committed to intervene to “contain” spread of communism
The Marshall Plan: 1948-1951 Truman Doctrine = start of COLD WAR
Bernard Baruch, ’47: “Let us not be deceived- today we are in the midst of a cold war.”
State of Europe Drought, economic depression (factory production down), harsh winter,
coal shortage, food shortage, transportation systems wrecked, flourishign Communist parties
Spring ‘47- Gen. George Marshall (SOS) massive aid to Europe for reconstruction
not vs. ideology, but hunger, poverty, chaos
European Recovery Program passed Coincided w/ Communist overthrow of Czech gov.
Division of Germany ‘48- GB, Fr, US zones united = West Germans
Much civilian aid
Soviet resentment of west blocked roads & rail into West Berlin June 23, ALL traffic sstopped, electricity off = blockade & war of starvation, intimidation
Why?
US refuses to fold “If we mean. . . to hold Europe against communism, we must not budget.”
Berlin Airlift Oct. ‘48- Allied planes drop 13k tons per day
Food, medicine, coal, equipment
By May ‘49- blockade lifted
Germany DividedFEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
West Germany East Germany
Building Alliances North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
April 4, 1949
Senate vote? 82- 13 = isolation over!
Formal military alliance b/t:
US, GB, Fr, Belg., Nether., Lux., Can., Den., Ice., Italy, Norway, Port.
Later: Greece, Turkey (‘52), Germany (‘55), Spain (‘82)
Warsaw Pact
1948- Foreign Relations in the Middle East
Palestine = British protectorate Post-WWI, LON
Zionists movement into Holy Land (promise of Jewish nation)
Late ’47- UN OK Palestine into Jewish & Arab states Opposition
No action until British mandate done- May ‘48
Jewish proclaim independence of Israel
Truman & US first to recognize Israel Arab states attack
UN truce & uneasy peace May ‘49- Israel joined UN
Civil Rights in the 1940s
Double Victory Victory at home and abroad!
“This is a particularly good time to campaign against the evils of bigotry, prejudice, and race hatred because we have witnessed the defeat of enemies who tried to found a mastery of the world upon such cruel and fallacious policy.” –New York Times
Fall ‘46- assessment of civil rights by Truman Segregation + communist threat
Reality of segregation & lynching Committee on Civil Rights
Fair Employment Practices Committee, revocation of fed. aid /schools
July ‘48- END OF. .. racial discrimination in hiring of federal employees, in military (air force, navy)
Jackie Robinson Public effort at defeating segregation
April ‘47- NL Brooklyn Dodgers + JR Born GA, raised CA
Negro league star, army vet
Struggle for acceptance from whites, on and off field
Public showing that racism- NOT INFERIORITY- held back black advancement
The Fair Deal Fragmentation in Dem. Party
Southern Dems disagree w/ support of civil rights
Left disagree w/ firing of Henry Wallace (provoking Soviets?)
Progressive Citizens of America ‘46
Americans for Democratic Action ‘47
Needs? Support of farmers, labor unions, African-Americans
1948 State of the Union Secure human rights for all citizens
Federal aid for education
Extended unemployment/retirement
Health insurance
Federal support for housing & rent control
Rural electrification
Higher min. wage
Refugees into US
$$ for Marshall Plan
Election of 1948
Harry Truman vs. Thomas Dewey
Dems= general opposition to racial discrimination vs. specific action “The time has arrived for the Democratic party to get out of the shadow
of states’ rights and walk forthrightly into the bright sunshine of human rights.” - Hubert Humphrey
Segregationist reaction?
Repubs= New Deal reforms, bipartisan foreign policy, EFFICIENT & EFFECTIVE running of country
Rise of the “Dixiecrats” Nomination of Strom Thurmond (SC gov) for States’ Rights
Democratic ticket Disagree w/ civil rights initiatives, champion states’ rights
Plan? NO MAJORITY election to House sectional bargain
The Campaign Another Democrat?
Leftists nominate Henry Wallace- Progressive Party
Truman- “whistle-stop” train tour Critical of Congress
“I don’t give ‘em hell. I just tell the truth and they think it’s hell.”
Dewey- don’t rock the boat
Predicted winner? Actual winner? Dixiecrats lose black vote to Truman
Progressive seen as radicals
Strong Dem. showing in Senate Hubert Humphrey, Lyndon Johnson
Victory = vindication for New Deal & moderate liberalism
Reaffirm platform that “Every segment of our population and every individual has a right to expect from his government a fair deal.” Fair deal = Truman’s reform to FDR’s New Deal program
Focus on extending New Deal programs: Higher wages, expansion of SS, farm subsidies, etc.
Southern Dems + Republicans = conservative coalition Rejection of civil rights bills, subsidies, nat’l health insurance
The Cold War Heats Up
“Losing” China and the Bomb Chinese Nat 'lists vs. Communists
Chiang Kai-shek vs. Mao Zedong
1920s – 1937, 1945 – 1949
US back peace b/t factions
Nat’lists to Taiwan “Who lost China?” asked to Truman State Dept. says Chiang
Nat’list victory not possible w/out full intervention
US recognize Taiwan as China (until ‘79)
New need? Bolster friendly regimes in Asia ‘50- US support Emperor Bao Dai (Vietnam, French supported) vs. Ho Chi
Minh guerrillas
US intelligence find radioactivity in air Soviet success on atomic bomb, ‘49
Balance of world power?
Truman order of hydrogen bomb, ‘50
NSC-68 Rebuild US military forces (options other than nuclear war)
$$$, large standing army
The Korean WarThe Forgotten War
War Begins Japanese in Korea since 1910
Defeat = creation of new Korean nation
Soviets in northern Korea, US in south Accept Japanese surrender above/below 38th parallel
Aug. ‘45- Temporary division until unification?
‘48- occupation forces out, regimes in power in both sectors
June 1950- 80k North Korean soldiers into South Korea Assumption of Soviet involvement = aggressive design of Soviet
communism
“The attack upon Korea makes it p lain beyond all doubt that communism has passed beyond the use of subversion to conquer independent nations and will now use armed invasion and war.” -Truman
Truman responds 1. wage war backed by UN
2. engage armed forces before asking for declaration of war
UN Security Council condemned NK “breach of peace” Soviet delegate not there- boycotting
UN troops move to action “to furnish such assistance to the Republic of Korea as may be necessary to repel the armed attack and to restore international peace and security in the area.”
Fighting Begins: 1950 Truman: air, naval, ground forces
350k US, 400k S. Korea, 50k UN member nations (MacArthur)
Defense of SK = US affair Precedence set- war via President + sanction of UN (police action vs.
war)
Belief in Soviet backing of invasion Korea a diversion for invasion of W. Europe? EXPAND US forces in NATO
Increase aid to French in Indochina
Military Assistance Advisory Group
Early Struggle UN/SK forces pushed back to Pusan peninsula by Sept. ‘50
MacArthur + UN force push NK back across border attempt to unite Korea (push on!) forces into NK by Oct.
Intervention by the Chinese?
“China cannot stand idly by.”
Oct. 26- UN forces close to Chinese border
Nov. 25- counterattack by Chinese “volunteers” Human wave attacks + tanks + planes
UN retreat
By Dec.- opposition to war high
Toward an End No ground war with China!
UN forces rally + reinforcements 900k (Gen. Matthew Ridgway) near Seoul
Counterattack into NK by March, ‘51
Dissent Negotiation close, but FAIL because . . .
MacArthur to China: make peace or face attack!
Truman go along until April MacArthur removed, replaced by Ridway
MacArthur’s reception? “. . . Would involve us in the wrong war at the wrong place at the wrong
time and with the wrong enemy.” –Gen. Omar Bradley
War Ends June, ‘51- Soviet propose cease-fire, armistice along 38th parallel
SOS Dean Acheson accepted
China & NK accept
Truce talks last 2 years. . . Fighting continues!
Why? Prison exchanges, unification proposals
July, ’53- Truce reached under EISENHOWER
Line near 38th parallel + DMZ separating forces
Voluntary return of prisoners
NO FINAL PEACE CONFERENCE!
Korea divided
Another Red Scare
The Second Red Scare 1938- House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)
‘45 – ’51 = domestic counterpart to cold war abroad
Growing list of accusations vs. enemies in gov.
‘47- 19 Hollywood actors, producers, writers accused HUAC vs. SWG. . . Why?
Propaganda in movies, pro-Soviet feelings
Hollywood Ten- 1st Amend = defense
“Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist party?”
Ruled in contempt of court 1 year in prison, blacklisted
The Scare Continues Search for Communists in gov. expands
Exec. Order- procedure for employee loyalty program
Alger Hiss, ‘48 Carnegie Endowment for Int’l Peace , State Dept.
Whittaker Chambers accuse Hiss to HUAC
Hiss denial perjury/espionage, ‘50 – 44 months in jail
Nixon work on case, use anti-Comm. Stance to win Senate seat in ‘50
Julius & Ethel Rosenburg, ‘50 Convicted of espionage during war, executed in ‘53
Witch-Hunts ‘50- Senator Joseph McCarthy (WI)
Rise to power- claim State Dept. infested with Communists
He had LIST! How many?
250? 81? 57? A lot?
Pressure for names Owen Lattimore (Johns Hopkins) = head of spy ring
Senate Committee- JM accusations “a fraud and a hoax.”
Never found Communist agent in gov. Mobilized believers in his cause- Korean War setting
Other pinkos? Eisenhower, Gen. Marshall
‘54- Army-McCarthy hearings
1940- Smith Act Illegal to teach/advocate overthrow of government by force or belong to
organization supporting this
1950- McCarran Internal Security Act Require Communist orgs. to register w/ government
No US entrance for aliens belonging to totalitarian parties
No former Communists into US
Reality? Soviet spy network after WWII
Agents recruited for secrets on: atomic weapons, defense systems, military intelligence
An Assessment of the Cold War Inevitable
US preference for self-determination, democracy vs. Soviet preference for int’l spheres of influence
Soviets- 2 German invasions, use of buffer states for protection E. Euros in middle
Soviets hold universal principle- world revolution
US against foreign intervention in own sphere
Defense against Soviets? Mutual defense treaties
Treaty of Rio de Janeiro- W. Hemisphere agreed to aid others in attack
US & Japan- US maintains military force in Japan
Others- with Philippines, Australia, New Zealand
Policies favorable to peacetime alliances