Early Cold War

1. Early Cold War The Truman Years 1945-1952

2. Harry S. Truman • Seen as “accidental” president • Not always respected as a politician • Self-assured Missourian The Buck Stops Here!

3. In this corner… There are now two great nations in the world, which starting from different points, seem to be advancing toward the same goal: the Russians and the Anglo-Americans. . . . Each seems called by some secret design of Providence one day to hold in its hands the destinies of half the world. -Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America (1835)

4. Philosophical & actual “reasons” to conflict • Democratic gov’t/capitalist econ vs communist gov’t/command econ • US not recognizing communist govt for years • US/Brit waiting to open western front • US not “sharing” atomic progress secrets • Different post-war aims • Only 2 superpowers still in tact

5. The United Nations • Plans finalized prior to end of war – helped ensure it becoming a reality (April 25,1945) • General Assembly – discussion & recommendation power • Security Council – 5 biggies + 6 chosen by the assembly – internt’l peace & security – veto power

6. International Links • Bretton Woods Conference (1944) • International Monetary Fund (IMF) – regulates currency rates of exchange – supports increased international trade • World Bank – goal to help nations reconstruct or develop in an effort to prevent/end poverty

7. War Conferences • As seen @ Yalta – Stalin equated Sov. security (#1 goal) with controlling E. Europe • Any attempts at this, seen by US/Brits as violating Yalta agreements • Potsdam solidified sectors & supervision of Germany • Also arranged for war crimes • trials for Germany • Last meeting of Stalin & his • “allies” – increasing tensions • are evident

8. Iron Curtain • From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia; all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere, and all are subject, in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and in some cases increasing measure of control from Moscow.

9. Curtain Extends • SU had been in the “agreed upon” north but supported a rebel coup attempt outside the area • West protests & Sov troops are removed ‘46 • Only deepens distrust

10. Two Germanys • Soviets wanted crippled Germany (powerful Germany had been cause of recent “problems”) • Soviets could also use equipment for their factories • West planning for a German reunification so merge their zones (a stable functioning Germany is good for trade) • Stalin cuts off land connections to W.Berlin • Truman unwilling to lose territ or face begins airlift • 321 days later Stalin lifts blockade

11. The divisions solidified • Western powers established the German Federal Republic out of their zones in 1949 • In response, the Soviets established the German Democratic Republic in their zone.

12. George F. Kenan • Soviet “specialist”/diplomat • Believed in the expansionary nature of the SU but felt strong response would limit it • Crafted “long telegram” expressing views to Sect of St.

13. Containment doctrine- Truman’s official philosophy toward Soviet expansion • First tested 1947 crisis in Greece • Truman Doctrine • Developed out of the Greek civil war - Greek government besieged by communist insurgents • Britain unable to aid Greek government, Truman decided US had to help • Truman, hoping to stir up Congressional support with emotional rhetoric, asserted the United States must support all free peoples (not just Greeks) who were resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressure • $400 million for Greece & Turkey

14. The Marshall Plan (1947) • Emergency effort to shore-up war ravaged economies of Western Europe w/infusion of cash aid. • Soviets not allow countries of Eastern Europe to participate, denounced plan as American economic imperialism. • Marshall Plan helped boost Western European economy into recovery mode and impetus for further European economic integration • $12.5 billion in initial 4 year plan

15. National Security Act (1947) • Created Dept. of Defense – • headed by Sect. of Defense • National Security Council (NSC) • advises president on security issues • Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) coordinates foreign intelligence gathering • North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) • Initially European organization but invited US to join • Attack on one is an attack on all • Significant in fact that US had not been a peace-time “joiner” in past

16. Soviet Responses • NATO causes need for Soviet sphere organization – Warsaw Pact (1955) • Marshall Plan organized thru Organization for European Economic Co-operation & Development (OEEC) caused SU to find funding for Eastern bloc nations w/Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON)

17. Japan • Gen. Douglas MacArthur • Japanese constitution (women’s equality, anti militarism, democ) • Article 9 – defensive military only • War crimes trials

18. China • US wanting free independent China to balance Cold War (not looking good even before war ended) • Since 1927 struggle between Nationalist gov’t (Chiang Kai-shek/Jiang Jieshi) & communist forces (Mao Zedong) • George Marshall sent to find “solution” • Nothing short of all out military war would beat comm. • US,Truman,Marshall unwilling to commit to this • 1949 Nationalists forced to Taiwan • US refuses to recognize Mao’s gov’t • Democrats “lost” China

19. Arms Race • SU explodes atomic bomb (Sept 1949) earlier than expected • Truman pushes for H-bomb • US 1952 • SU 1953 • Peace through the threat of mutually assured destruction (MAD) • Amer. public focusing more on nuclear reality (in scifi entertainment, air raid drills, fall out shelters, emergency broadcast tests – also benefits of cheap pwr – 2/3 believed more good than bad would come from atomic energy)

20. “Fair Deal” • 21 point program highlighting the domestic changes Truman wanted to see • Expanded Social Security benefits • Raising of minimum wage ($.40 to $.65/hr) • Setting goal of full employment • Permanent Fair Employment Practices Act • Slum clearing • Long range public works and environmental planning • Gov’t promotion of scientific research • Nat’l health insurance

21. Homefront Politics • Economy changed from war production to consumer goods • Women left work force in large numbers-3 mill. • Labor unrest: Unions ended their war time promise to end strikes and a wave of strikes occurs • United Mine workers strike, after 45 days Truman proposes gov’t be authorized to take control of essential industries crippled by strikes and draft strikers. (Truman alienates unions) • Republicans & conservative Dems. look to block Fair Deal attempts (Repub. Sen.R.Taft –in response to public complaints of raising meat costs – “eat less”) • Economic shakiness in ‘46-47 (slumping GNP and w/price controls gone rapid inflation taking place)

22. Taft-Hartley Act • Republicans take control of both houses 1946 and seek to return to a conservative gov’t: • Lower taxes • Reduced government regulation • Support for business • Anti-Union – reduce the power of unions to aid business • End price controls passed during the war • Taft, a conservative Republican Senator sponsored act • Authorized President- 80 day cooling off period for strikes in essential industries • Banned shops closed to non-union members • Truman Vetoes but is overridden

23. “GI Bill of Rights” • Servicemen's Readjustment Act, 1944 (GI Bill) Benefits offered by the government to help returning soldiers- Subsidies ($16 billion for loans –housing,farm,business) • Housing support and loans • Education funding ($14.5 billion) • Job training • Business loans • Lesson learned after WWI (Bonus Army)

24. Election of 1948 • Eventhough item after item was blocked by Congress, Truman continued to propose reform issues • Party divisions @ convention (Truman disturbingly unpopular – seen as weak & inept) • southern conservs. (upset by civil rights bill & inclusion of civil rights plank in platform) left & formed States Rights/“Dixiecrat” Party – nominated Strom Thurmond • Left wing also left – policies were slow & ineffective & believed Truman was too aggressive toward SU –Progressive Party- nominated Wallace • Another liberal grp. unwillng to leave party but formed Americans for Democratic Action – wanted Eisenhower to run

25. “Dewey Defeats Truman” • Repubs. run Dewey again – huge lead in pre-election polls • Truman characterizing Repub. Congress as the real problem “do nothing, good for nothing” • To prove it, called for special session in July & even though Repubs had just put liberal planks in platform, Congress did essentially nothing on any of the reform measures put before them • Called for: repeal of Taft-Hartley, increased farm supports, strong civil rights protections (very New Deal-esque) • Truman 49.5% Dewey 45.1% • Dems regain control of both houses

26. Fair Deal Recharged • New Congress no more receptive to reforms than previous one • Did raise minimum wage to $.75/hr • Extended Social Security (more benefits & more people) • National Housing Act of 1949 – low income longterm rent subsidized(not fully realized til ‘72) • No movement on civil rights, health care, education • Truman took executive order steps to affect end segregation & discrimination • Supreme Court – Shelley v Kraemer – legal discrim. in residential housing thru private “covenants” undone

27. NSC-68 • National Security Council report (April 1950) • Can’t count on other nations to take initiative to stop communism • US is leader of non-communist world in its attempts to stop spread • regardless of the threatened nations’ strategic or economic value to US • Major expansion of Amer defense budget (almost 4 times projected budget)

28. Korean War • Temporary division @ 38th parallel – Soviet occupation & then support in north – US in south • June 25, 1950 – North invades South • June 27th – Truman appeals to UN (SU boycotting so not there to veto) • June 30th – MacArthur sent in as leader of UN forces (overwhelmingly American) • Sept. 15th – landing @ Inchon moves troops quickly back across 38th parallel (changes nature of the mission – containment to liberation of a democratic peninsula) • UN forces moving steadily north

29. Too close as far as China was concerned so they send troops • Combined comm troops push back past 38th • Stalemate settles in – MacArthur wants to broaden nature of mission (include China) Truman & Joint Chiefs do not (“wrong war, at the wrong place, at the wrong time, & with the wrong enemy” – Omar Bradley) • MacArthur “pleads” his case directly to Congress – letter is publicly released • Truman relieves MacArthur of duty – public siding with Mac & returns home to hero’s welcome • July 1953: cease-fire agreement signed putting border almost where it had been pre-war (5 million soldiers [including 54,000 Amers] & civilians dead, destruction of much territ, $20-22 billion)

30. The Hunt At Home • Americans were freaked: lost China, Korea stalemated, SU had nuclear weapons –must be enemies among us • House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) – belief that Dems. were soft if not actually encouraging communists w/in society (Richard Nixon) • Hollywood Ten • Alger Hiss (Whittaker Chambers & “pumpkin papers”

31. Loyalty? • Federal “loyalty” program –Truman supported • Loyalty Review Board – investigated millions – especially those who were “bad” risks (alcoholics, homosexuals, debtors) • Thousands resigned or were dismissed • McCarran Internal Security Act • Communist organizations have to register w/gov’t • “subversives” could be detained, deported • “to determine whether there is reasonable ground to believe that such detainee probably will engage in, or conspire with others to engage in, espionage or sabotage ” • FBI investigations – files maintained • J. Edgar Hoover

32. The Rosenbergs • Investigation on how the SU could have developed bomb so quickly – had to have “help” • Klaus Fuchs – confirmed the passage of info received from David Greenglass (Manhattan Project machinist) • Greenglass implicated his sister&hubby –Ethel & Julius Rosenberg

33. McCarthyism • Fueled by info from HUAC, Rosenberg case, Hiss case, loyalty investigations leads nation to putting faith in Joseph McCarthy • Sen. (Wisc) – begins “hunt” for communists w/in gov’t • Witness badgered into giving up anything of value • Mere accusation was damaging enough

34. Election of 1952 • AdalaiSteveson/John Sparkman • Dwight Eisenhower/Richard Nixon (Repub) • played up Korea, communism &corruption as campaign themes • ticket nearly floundered when it was revealed that Nixon had been beneficiary of political slush fund -only saved by his histrionic & live television denial--which became known as "Checkers Speech.“ • Ike 55% Stevenson 41% • ended twenty years of Democratic control of the White House

35. Truman’s Legacy • Truman's reputation has been rehabilitated over the years, as the small things he did wrong now seem less significant in comparison to the big things he did right; which included the defense of western Europe against Stalinism, the Marshall Plan, NATO, firing General MacArthur, civil rights, and keeping alive liberal democracy at home while supporting responsible internationalism abroad