THE NEW DEAL
IN OKLAHOMA
Spring 2013
THE NEW DEAL IN GENERAL…
 Main Goals of FDR’s New Deal:
 Relief – for those suffering the effects of the Great
Depression.
 Recovery- of the depressed economy.
 Reforms – that would help prevent serious economic
crisis in the future.
THE NEW DEAL IN OKLAHOMA
 With the recent happenings of the Great Depression and
the Dust Bowl, Americans, Oklahomans in general- are a
little bitter with the governments’ reaction.
 Along comes a very democratic FDR with a plan called
the New Deal.
 Oklahoma becomes a one-party state  Democratic.
THE NEW DEAL IN OKLAHOMA
 1930 – Oklahomans elect William Henry David Murray (a.k.a.
“Alfalfa Bill”) (D)
 Prior to now- he served as the President of the Oklahoma
Constitutional Convention.
 Campaign Strategy: Save Taxpayers money… How?
 Other things he ‘did’:
 Ordered that every producing oil well in Oklahoma (all
3,106) be shut down, to put an end to overproduction.
 Resisted every New Deal program that came along.
THE NEW DEAL IN OKLAHOMA
 William Henry David Murray (a.k.a. “Alfalfa Bill”) (D)
 President in 1932?
 Going against the grain with FDR / New Deal,
didn’t exactly work in his favor – ultimately hurt
Oklahoma in general as well.
 FDR’s thoughts on him: “as crazy as a bedbug”.
THE INDIAN NEW DEAL
 Amerindians also rejected the FDR plan.
 Bureau of Indian Affairs, John Coller, establishes the
Indian Reorganization Act (IRA).
 Main Goal: Allotment process – failed
 The plan – what was considered individually held
allotments were returned to tribal control.
THE INDIAN NEW DEAL
 Pass Rate: Congress – Check. Oklahoma – (crickets)
 Coller came to Oklahoma three times:
 Anadarko – fail
 Miami – fail
 Muskogee – fail
 IRA decides to exempt Oklahoma from being covered
by it.
THE INDIAN NEW DEAL
 What: Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act
 When: 1936
 Where: Oklahoma
 Significance:
 It extended many of the provisions from the IRA plan.
 ~90,000 / 103,000 eligible to be covered by the OIWA
rejected it.
THE ‘LITTLE’ NEW DEAL
 ASAP, Oklahoma replaces Alfalfa Bill – with
E.W. Marland (D) – Pro-FDR’s New Deal.
 Campaign: “Bring the New Deal to Oklahoma”
 First plan of action: The “Little New Deal”
 Democratic Oklahoma Legislature – High Resistance.
 Among many reasons- the cost - $500 Million when it
was a nearly bankrupt state.
 Marland finishes term; Returns back to Ponca City.
THE ‘LITTLE’ NEW DEAL
 Something coming from Washington? We’re listening…
 Works Progress Administration (WPA)
 Would put thousands of unemployed Oklahomans to work
on public projects. (i.e. post offices / armories)
 Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
 Basically the same concept of the WPA, however, these
were more focused on conservation-related projects.
 Both required/allowed the workers to send a portion of their
earnings back to their families for relief.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
 Like mentioned before, Marland finished out his term.
Replacement?
 Leon C. ‘Red’ Phillips – (D) – Elected 1938.
 Another Anti-New Dealer… This should be successful.
 What he accomplished:
 Ordered the National Guard to block the federal gov’t’s
construction of dams and bridges (i.e. Lake Texoma and
Grand Lake).
 Pushed through the balanced budget amendment to the
Oklahoma Constitution.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
 Robert S. ‘Bob’ Kerr (D) – Ada
 1940 – filled Oklahoma’s seat on the DNC.
 1942 – Became the next governor of Oklahoma.
 Three goals in life: A family, $ 1 Million, The Governor’s
Mansion. – Now, all are accomplished.
 Main goal while governor: to bring peace between the
Oklahoma Democrats and Washington.
WWII
 Kerr served as the governor during WWII.
 During this time, the federal government is spending
billions to raise, train, and arm troops for combat.
 Kerr wants to get as much money as possible for
Oklahoma.
 Turns to schmoozing the White House, Congress,
and the Pentagon.
 Result: Oklahoma is able to wash away a lot of the
devastation from the Great Depression.
WWII
 Before long, a major increase in military presence in
Oklahoma.
 28 army installations at Ft. Sill (and elsewhere).
 13 naval bases (largest in Norman)
 As well as several air force bases.
 Even brought in British and Canadian pilots to Ponca City.
 Also… Prisoner Camps in Tonkawa, Chickasha, Alva,
Tipton, and Okmulgee.
OKLAHOMA:
A NOT-SO-BRAND NEW STATE
 At this point, we’ve now survived:
 Two World Wars
 The Oil Boom… and Bust.
 The Great Depression and Dust Bowl
 As well as other ups-and-downs along the way.