1. America at Mid-Century 1952-1963

2. FACTS about the 1950s… US Population: 151,684,000 Life expectancy: W 71.1 - M 65.6 Average $: $2,992 Labor force male/female: 5/2 Gallon of gasoline: $0.18 - $0.25 Bomb shelter plans….government pamphlet You Can Survive

3. Objective… Discuss the status of American society at mid-century and its major themes. AMERICAN SOCIETY AT MID-CENTURY

4. John Kenneth Galbraith The Affluent Society…

5. John Kenneth Galbraith Galbraith’s criticism of American society… “spend less on personal consumption and more to schools, medical care, cultural activities, and social services.”

6. The Eisenhower Presidency Objective… Describe Eisenhower’s leadership style and political philosophy on the role of government.

7. Dwight David Eisenhower Birth: October 14, 1890 Death: March 28, 1969 Term of Office: January 20, 1953 - January 20, 1961

8. DDE’s background… Born 1890 into a poor Texas family Public education 1915 - Graduated West Point 1917 - WW I veteran Advisor to MacArthur 1943 - N. African campaign - D-Day

9. DDE’s background… 1945 – Allied Commander 1945 - President Columbia U. 1950 - Leader of NATO 1952 – Elected US President Retired in Gettysburg, PA Died in Washington DC 1969

10. Dwight D. Eisenhower Dynamic Conservatism or Modern Republicanism “Conservative when it comes to money and liberal when it comes to human beings” - DDE

11. What was Eisenhower’s leadership style? Moderate – middle of the road Slow the growth of the federal government Limit the President’s power Cut spending/reduce taxes/balance the budget Worked behind the scenes – “hidden hand” Critics interpreted his style as doing nothing

12. Ike’s view of the corporate commonwealth? Wanted to encourage and support corporate America Pro-big business Appointed to FTC, FCC, and the FPC men who were friendly to the corporate interests they were charged with regulating

13. Ike’s cabinet? Put successful businessmen in his cabinet – “eight millionaires and a plumber” Charles Wilson (Sec. of Defense) “What’s good for General Motors business is good for America.”

14. Submerged Lands Act of 1953? Transferred $40 billion worth of offshore oil lands from the federal government to the states so that the states could lease oil rights to corporations

15. Consequences of Ike’s environmental policy? Lax approach to government regulation Accelerated a trend toward the destruction of the natural environment Louisiana – massive degradation of wetlands Florida – tropical forest damaged Warehousing of dangerous chemicals Use of DDT poisoned birds

16. Ike and the New Deal? Accepted legacy of greater federal responsibility for social welfare Expanded Social Security Added 4 million workers to those eligible for unemployment Small increases in minimum wage Created Department of Health, Education and Welfare

17. Ike’s views on the economy… Hesitant to pump up the economy during recessions Would not cut taxes and increase spending to stimulate growth End of term: –Real wages up 20% –Low inflation –Modest growth

18. FHA? Federal Housing Administration Insured long-term mortgages Spurred housing industry Money went to suburbs Contributed to the decline of cities Discriminated against racially mixed communities

19. Levittown, NY - PA

20. Levittown…

25. Federal Highway Act of 1956 $32 billion for the construction of a national interstate highway system By 1972 single largest public works program in Am. history

26. 41,000 miles of highway at $76 billion Stimulated auto industry and suburbia Accelerated decline of mass transit and older cities

29. National Defense Education Act… Oct. 4, 1957 Soviet Union launched Sputnik Am. Officials worried that U.S. lagging behind in training scientists and engineers Strengthen support for math, science, and technology education

30. 1958 - $280 million grants to upgrade university facilities $300 million for low-interest student loans Concede importance of education

31. Sputnik October 4, 1957 Size of a beach ball 183 lbs. 98 minutes to orbit earth Sputnik II November 3 Dog named Laika

32. Suburban Life How did the following typify the ideal suburban life … Nuclear family & the suburban housewife…. Role of religion… California…

33. Housewife

34. Religion ¾ of Americans are church members Finding individual solutions to problems… not activism Importance of fitting in

35. California Cars! 500 miles of highway around LA The “centerless city”

36. Betty Freidan… Her alternative view?...

37. Lonely Crowds & Organization Men According to critics what motivates Americans in the 1950s… What is their primary criticism?

38. Riesman’s “Other-directed” man Desire to conform Peer-oriented Fewer risks Thinking and habits cued from mass media Whyte’s Organization man “Belongingness” is ultimate need Obsession to fit-in Comfort & security Wilson’s Man in the Grey Flannel Suit The hero rejects a top-promotion to be with his family Mills said, “When white-collar people get jobs, they sell not only their time and energy, but their personalities as well” (White Collar, 1951).

39. The Expansion of Higher Education The rapid expansion in college enrollment in the 1950s… Reinforcing corporate culture on the college campus…

40. Rapid growth of higher education…. 1950 – 2.6 million attended college 1960 3.2 million 1970 7.5 million Helped by –GI Bill – National Defense Education Act –Gov’t spending on research and development

41. Changes in higher education? Values of the postwar corporate culture Most popular majors: business or other commercial fields Grad educ. & fac. research become main focus versus undergrad teaching Gateway to the middle class Requirement for white – collar occupations

42. Health & Medicine Improvements in heath & medicine after WWII…

43. New improvements in medical care? Longer and healthier lives War = gov’t funded medical research Nat’l Institutes of Health Penicillin Tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough and measles nearly eradicated by 1960 Salk vaccine – eliminated polio by 1960

45. Dr. Jonas Salk

46. Limitations to new health care? Increased cost of medical care Many poor Americans could not afford health care Doctors not available in rural communities

47. Limitations to new health care? Decline in general practitioner = focus on specialized medicine in large medical centers Proliferation of iatrogenic ailments – illness caused by medical treatment –ThalidomideThalidomide Increase of foreign trained doctors

48. AMA blocked gov’t intervention into public health – blocked “socialized medicine” –Truman’s nat’l health care policy –Ike’s plan to aid private health insurance companies Limitations to new health care?