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"Freedom from want and war" - He saw victory in WWII
as the beginning of US leadership of a peaceful and stable world
built upon free trade, economic interdependence, and mutual cooperation.
In a letter to Roosevelt in April 1940, Henry A. Wallace outlined
his ideas for postwar economic programs that would contribute to
stability and improve "conditions of life among the common
people of the world." The measures he suggested included:
1. continuation of the reciprocal trade program to ensure a freer
flow of goods and services between nations
2. int'1 commodity agreements and a world-wide ever-normal granary
to stabilize prices and encourage increased consumption
3. extension of credit by the US to rebuild war torn countries and
promote world trade, accomplished in a way to allow borrowing nations
to repay their debts
He insisted that the US must strive to improve living standards
in other parts of the world because it could not prosper if other
countries remained impoverished. He urged Americans to help build
a century of the common man by working to improve living standards,
encourage education, and promote industrialization in underdeveloped
countries. Pointing out that modern technology provided abundance
so that people in all parts of the world could have enough to eat,
Henry A. Wallace suggested that one main objective of the war was
to make certain "that everybody in the world has the privilege
of drinking a quart of milk a day."
He believed that reform could be carried out on a national and
int'1 level via institutional economics and social justice. He believed
that his plan for the postwar world appealed to both altruistic
and selfish impulses. In addition to its moral obligation to the
millions of hungry and illiterate people in Asia and Latin America,
the US should strive to improve the lives of those people to advance
its own interests. American economic and technical assistance to
industrialize and increase prosperity in underdeveloped nations
would provide important new markets for US exports.
A crucial step toward achieving the century of the common man was
the establishment of a viable world organization. Such an organization
would provide the mechanism for collective action against future
aggression and for int'1 cooperation to combat depression and modernize
underdeveloped nations.
In a national radio speech delivered in December 1942 he advocated
an arrangement in which regional councils would deal with problems
arising in their particular areas, while the world organization
would concern itself with issues "involving broad principles
and those practical matters which affect countries of different
regions or affect the whole world."
Quotation re: UN from Henry A. Wallace and American Foreign Policy
by J. Samuel Walker, Greenwood Press, 1976
"Although Wallace remained uncertain of exactly how the world
organization should operate, he did suggest some specific functions
it should perform. In order to maintain peace, it should have a
military force capable of bombing aggressors `mercilessly' if necessary.
In order to promote global prosperity, it should take action to
curb international cartels that discouraged new industry, suppressed
competition, and raised prices by creating artificial scarcity.
The Vice-President called for an international commodity agency
to insure equitable distribution of raw materials, stabilize prices,
and expand world consumption. Since he anticipated a sharp reduction
in government spending by all countries after the war, he favored
the establishment of a United Nations investment corporation. It
would utilize both public and private capital to forestall worldwide
unemployment by undertaking postwar reconstruction projects as well
as flood control, irrigation, soil reclamation, and rural electrification.
Wallace thought the world organization could sponsor some form of
an international TVA, and also suggested a combined highway and
airway from Buenos Aires to Moscow. He was vitally concerned about
assuring freedom pf the air in the postwar world, and proposed that
the United Nations construct and administer large international
airports. He feared that the alternative would be a race for air
supremacy that could lead to a third world war.
In February 1943, Wallace wrote to Roosevelt, suggesting that a
`United Nationa Organization' be set up immediately to discuss ways
to control international cartels that threatened `the true peace
aims of the common peoples of the world.' Even more importantly,
it should consider plans to internationalize the world's airports.
If the United Nations handled those tasks satisfactorily it could
then be trusted to take on other projects. `In this way, international
administration of international problems could grow and develop
naturally,' he stated."
Henry A. Wallace's contributions to the New Deal
Within government, Henry A. Wallace was a leading philosopher of
the New Deal; externally he was a key spokesman and leader of the
New Deal and New Deal programs
He was in charge of the Economic Defense Board, which became the
Board of Economic Warfare; Supply Priorities and Allocations Board;
served as Roosevelt's personal liaison to the Manhattan Project.
Very active in foreign affairs and international relations - trips
to Latin America; Soviet Asia, and China - increasing conflicts
with the State Department.
Although he focused his attention on the int'1 aspects of postwar
policy, he remained committed to the planned middle course. He supported
a variety of domestic programs designed to prevent depression and
raise standards of living in the US, including tax reform, extension
of social security, rural electrification, and programs to improve
health, education, and transportation systems.
He believed it was imperative that government, business, labor,
and agriculture cooperate to provide jobs in a "mixed economy."
In January 1944 he stated privately that guaranteeing full employment
in the US was more important for promoting general prosperity than
was reducing tariffs.
His motto was Peace, Prosperity, and Equality - He believed in
the importance of a peace time economy that was not dependent on
war, conflict, or the military industrial complex.
As Secretary of Agriculture, despite the growth in the number and
size of government programs, he strived to decentralize formation
of policy, leadership and administration of programs. He implemented
county level committees that required involvement of farmers affected
by programs - a grass-roots democracy that addressed issues and
programs in soil and water conservation and land use among others.
He was committed to mutually beneficial relations between nations
of the world; he believed in the importance of a viable world organization
Pan-Americanism; internationalism
Secretary of Commerce goals:
1. Stimulate foreign trade
2. Increase technical assistance to the small business sector
3. Create a work force of 60 Million
Do any specific features of Henry A. Wallace's legacy remain?
Ag. Programs - soil and water conservation; conservation management
of land; production controls and price supports; school lunch program;
food stamps
Pan-Americanism; establishment of the Inter-American Institute for
Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA); and the Center for Tropical Agricultural
Research, Education, and Outreach (CATIE)
Progressive Party Platform
(1948 Presidential Campaign)
1. Freedom of expression w/o fear of reprisal
2. An understanding with Russia
3. An end to Wall Street/Military control of government
4. Lower prices
5. Monopoly control
6. National health insurance for all Americans
7. $1 /hr min. wage and equal pay for equal work
8. Eliminate business cycles and unemployment through government
planning
9. Repeal of segregation legislation and support for legislation
outlawing discrimination against women in employment
Similarities and differences between Henry A. Wallace's political
ideas and those who call themselves progressives today
Henry A. Wallace's core belief was that politics and government
should serve as a forum for moral questions; he was committed to
using government to implement social justice.
He believed in the possibility of an abundant life for all; the
ability of people to help themselves if basic needs are met; people
naturally self-actualize; life on this earth is an abundant life,
and government should help ensure adequate distribution of resources
to all people.
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