Politics of Consensus
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Dynamic Conservatism
• Part of Eisenhower’s presidential platform in
1952.
• Eisenhower said it stood for:
– Conservative when it comes to money
– Liberal when it comes to human beings
Eisenhower’s Conservative
Policy Attempts
• Cut income taxes by 10% (this should prompt ??)
– Also cut government spending by 10%
• Interest rates were raised. (why)
– This tightened credit (made it harder for money to get put
out into circulation)
– This hopes to reduce inflation.
• Republicans tried to reduce the role of the Federal
Government. (it didn’t work)
– What happens to that power then?
Eisenhower’s Conservative
Policy Attempts
• Dynamic Conservatism was not an attempt to
repeal the NEW DEAL.
• NEW DEAL:
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Series of economic reforms put forth by FDR (1st term)
Helped to get them out of the depression
Had the 3 R’s Relief, Recovery, Reform
Relief: For the Unemployed and Poor
Recovery: For the Economy to recover to normal levels
Reform: For the financial system so they never go
through a depression again.
• The New Deal was a “hands on approach” to
government.
Eisenhower’s Conservative
Policy Attempts
• Dynamic Conservatism was not an attempt to
repeal the NEW DEAL.
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Eisenhower did expand some New Deal Programs
Congress expanded Social Security Coverage
Raised the minimum wage (what does this potentially do)
Extended unemployment insurance
He created the Department of Health, Education, &
Welfare
• What did this do to the size of the government???
– Government actually expanded.
Eisenhower’s Conservative
Policy Attempts
• Created the Interstate Highway Act 1956
• Largest public works in U.S. history (at the time)
• Congress would pay for 90% of the construction
via tax dollars
• Taxes would be paid on vehicles, gas, tires,
lubricants, auto parts.
• As a result 42,000 miles of highway were
created.
Eisenhower’s Conservative
Policy Attempts
Highway Act 1956
• Shopping malls and suburban life continued to
grow because the highways created ease of
accessibility.
• Miles driven by families increased by 4x
• This helped contribute to the concept of
spending and prospering America in the 1950’s
Eisenhower’s Reign
• His presidency didn’t see a battle over
fundamental issues by political parties
• Generally it was seen as Conservatives wanted
Limited Government and Liberals wanted Big
Government.
• Now because of the consensus of the people
and parties “hot” issues were generally shared
by both parties. (What was the hot issue that
was the consensus?)
McCarthyism
• The accusation of governmental officials of
being disloyalty, subversion, or treason in
relation to the red menace (communism)
• Led by Senator Joseph McCarthy.
• Continued for 18 months!
• Many senators despised him but wouldn’t
challenge him openly because they were afraid
he would come after them. (He was very
damaging to elections)
McCarthyism
• The public supported him!
• Patriotism was huge at this time and many
things were twisted around to be shown as
questionable in terms of loyalty and patriotism.
• Books were removed from shelves
• He worked his way through the State
Department
McCarthyism
• 1954 McCarthy attacked the U.S. Army.
• He focused his attack at Fort Monmouth, NJ
• He uncovered that the Army promoted a dentist
(Dr. Irving Peress) to Major and honorably
discharged him when he used the “Pleading the
5th Amendment” when asked about Communist
affiliations/relations.
• McCarthy bullied General R. Zwicker because
he wouldn’t give McCarthy Peress’s file.
McCarthyism
• Army countered saying McCarthy was trying to
use his “communism allegations” to advance a
person on his staff at the base of Fort Monmouth.
• The Army vs. McCarthy Trials went on for 6 weeks
in the Spring of 1954. (The trials were telecasted)
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McCarthy’s antics were bold.
He interrupted procedure “yelling point of order”
Made threats and faces
He was very misbehaved (on Live TV)
YouTube - McCarthyism Documentary part 1
YouTube - Army-McCarthy Hearings
McCarthyism
• McCarthy was now losing
steam in his arguments
because he seemed
reckless.
• The U.S. Senate voted to
censure him:
– Censure: An official
reprimand. (which is a
major political bad mark)
• He died less than 3 years
later and so did the major
anti-communism force in
Government