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