THOMAS E. DEWEY

In the 1940’s equality and Civil Rights was a good wedge issue for Republicans because the most racist members of Congress were Democrats even though there were many Democrats who advocated strong civil rights. In 1964, there was a party realignment after the Congress passed the Civil Rights Act. After that the most racist members of Congress and the political established switched to the Republican Party and this caused the Republicans to publicly soft pedal civil rights issues. It now became a wedge issue for the democrats, and very few national Republican figures would make such a statement as it would be misinterpreted by the racial right wing of the party.

This is a statement that in the early 21st century would be made only by ultra liberals. But in the in the late 1940’s this was not only standard democratic party thinking, but a large number of Republicans thought of the Government as the employer of last resort including their Presidential standard bearer.

The theme of exporting freedom to all those who do not have it has been a dream for many Americans throughout our history.

See {583345} for the offer.

This is a statement that in the early 21st century would be made only by ultra liberals. But in the in the late 1940’s this was not only standard democratic party thinking, but a large number of Republicans thought of the Government as the employer of last resort including their Presidential standard bearer.

The temptation to erode our freedoms and civil rights in order to easier solve problems has been with us always, especially in times of war and economic bad times. Privacy and rights of expression and association are threatened in War and property and economic rights are threatened in difficult economic times. While some leaders of the two wings of the American political spectrum have advocated have wanted to compromise, leaders of all political parties have reminded us all of fundamental American values and where we have gone astray we have remedied it after.

The theme of exporting freedom to all those who do not have it has been a dream for many Americans throughout our history.

In the 1940’s equality and Civil Rights was a good wedge issue for Republicans because the most racist members of Congress were Democrats even though there were many Democrats who advocated strong civil rights. In 1964, there was a party realignment after the Congress passed the Civil Rights Act. After that the most racist members of Congress and the political established switched to the Republican Party and this caused the Republicans to publicly soft pedal civil rights issues. It now became a wedge issue for the democrats, and very few national Republican figures would make such a statement as it would be misinterpreted by the racial right wing of the party.

This quotation is cited by many to show that the Republican Party of the 1940’s and 1950’s was in many ways like the Democratic Party at the beginning of the 21st Century. This statement could easily be made by Bill Clinton with his “bridge to the 21st century” or any national Democratic leader in the 21st century while there are few Republicans who would dare make such a statement 50 years later. To other scholars, this quotation illustrates how far to the right the entire society has moved in the last 65 years of the 20th century. In 1948 this statement was made by the Republican presidential candidate and he was beaten badly by FDR whose programs were far to the left of his. By 2000, this statement would be made by the left or centrist members of the Democratic party while republicans who get roughly half the votes are far to the right.