For those who do not know what Taft-Hartley was, it restricted and de-incentivized labor unions and what they could do. It also allowed for states to adopt “right-to-work” laws. The act was a reaction to nationwide strikes and the start of the Cold War when many anti-union advocates believed unions to be a hotbed for socialists and communists. The act required union leaders to swear affidavits that they did not support the Communist party or any organization looking to overthrow the government. That part of the act was later struck down by the Supreme Court.
President Truman vetoed the Taft-Hartley Act to get into good graces with labor unions, which were a key bloc he needed for election in 1948. Congress nevertheless overrode his veto and enacted the bill.
I realize it’s not the point of this post but can’t help but notice the effect of California’s population change – looks like they had around 20 congressional districts in 1947, now they have 52.
Lisa4U6Carter on
Historical event, interesting choice! Trumon’s veto was quite controversial.
2012Jesusdies on
It’s pretty crazy how many progressive and pro-labor laws FDR passed before the anti-communist hysteria brought down the mood during Truman’s era. Even Truman almost passed universal healthcare, but it failed because of WW2 policies.
Wages had been frozen together with prices during WW2 to “prevent inflation” (that’s not how any of that works btw) and companies had started offering healthcare plans to workers as “totally not wage raises” to bypass the law and attract workers instead. So workers with employer provided health insurance went from 8% of USA before WW2 to 40% by the end. Thus by the time WW2 ended and Truman proposed universal healthcare, most of the people who would have benefited from it had already obtained healthcare and were even fearful that universal healthcare would take away their benefits and come with tax rises. The “American Medical Association” also went on a crusade against the bill because they feared it would undermine physician incomes.
Just goes to show you can’t try to go against basic economics or distortions will occur in the economy which might pull it in unwanted directions.
Stephen_Dashing on
This is such a fascinating look at political history! Maps really can tell stories.
6 Comments
For those who do not know what Taft-Hartley was, it restricted and de-incentivized labor unions and what they could do. It also allowed for states to adopt “right-to-work” laws. The act was a reaction to nationwide strikes and the start of the Cold War when many anti-union advocates believed unions to be a hotbed for socialists and communists. The act required union leaders to swear affidavits that they did not support the Communist party or any organization looking to overthrow the government. That part of the act was later struck down by the Supreme Court.
President Truman vetoed the Taft-Hartley Act to get into good graces with labor unions, which were a key bloc he needed for election in 1948. Congress nevertheless overrode his veto and enacted the bill.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taft-Hartley_Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taft%E2%80%93Hartley_Act)
Arizona, New Mexico and North Dakota elected 2 representatives at-large.
Sources:
[https://voteview.com/rollcall/RH0800049](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RH0800049?mapParties=0)
[https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS0800086](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS0800086)
I realize it’s not the point of this post but can’t help but notice the effect of California’s population change – looks like they had around 20 congressional districts in 1947, now they have 52.
Historical event, interesting choice! Trumon’s veto was quite controversial.
It’s pretty crazy how many progressive and pro-labor laws FDR passed before the anti-communist hysteria brought down the mood during Truman’s era. Even Truman almost passed universal healthcare, but it failed because of WW2 policies.
Wages had been frozen together with prices during WW2 to “prevent inflation” (that’s not how any of that works btw) and companies had started offering healthcare plans to workers as “totally not wage raises” to bypass the law and attract workers instead. So workers with employer provided health insurance went from 8% of USA before WW2 to 40% by the end. Thus by the time WW2 ended and Truman proposed universal healthcare, most of the people who would have benefited from it had already obtained healthcare and were even fearful that universal healthcare would take away their benefits and come with tax rises. The “American Medical Association” also went on a crusade against the bill because they feared it would undermine physician incomes.
Just goes to show you can’t try to go against basic economics or distortions will occur in the economy which might pull it in unwanted directions.
This is such a fascinating look at political history! Maps really can tell stories.
Cooperation cannot be achieved by force of law