The Last Progressive President

April 1946

An old man, Thomas Dixon, Jr. is dead. I'm not celebrating, but I must admit I am not unhappy. Dixon was a well respected minister, author, politician, and racist. He is best known for his book the Clansman, which became D.W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation. His efforts inspired the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan. Although later in life he was critical of the Klan for their anti-Catholic and anti-Jewish stances, he never lost his belief in white supremacy. His brother, Amzi Clarence Dixon, helped write the Fundamentals a text that fostered fundamentalist Christianity. Both of these movements have contributed to creating the modern Whiskey Rebels, who perpetuate hatred in America.

March 1946

The anti-Soviet hysteria is growing. Winston Churchill delivered a speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri calling for an anti-Soviet Anglo-American coalition – “From Stetin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an Iron Curtain has descended across the continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of he ancient states of central and eastern Europe.” He said, Russia posed a “growing challenge and peril to Christian civilization.” This further fueled the Whiskey Rebels to take a hard-line stand against the Soviets in particular and Communists in general. “Iron curtain” immediately entered our political lexicon, and public opinion of Russia, and any movement or person who could be associated with it, plummeted. H.A., Ickes, and Eleanor Roosevelt fought back calling the speech an unnecessary attack on Moscow and the proposed Anglo-American alliance a slight to the United Nations. H.A. responded that it “would destroy the United Nations to have two of the chief members of the United Nations ganging up on a third member.” H.A. “didn’t see how these war-like words of Churchill now could have any more real influence on the Russians than this war-like attitude toward the Bolsheviks had in 1919.”

H.A. drew up a list of points to be used by members of the Administration to counter Churchill. H.A. wrote, “the American people were not willing to send American boys to fight anybody now; that certainly the Russians did not want to fight anybody now; that in all probability the situation would finally work out on a basis that would cause the Russians completely and utterly to distrust us; that it would cause the Russians to engage in a race with us in the making of atomic bombs; that while they might have be a long way behind us at the present time, they would have enough bombs to destroy us fifteen years hence; … that they would have no hesitation in continuing their fifth-column activities in all the nations of the world; that they could use these fifth-columnists effectively to destroy our form of government.”

The benefits of the New Deal will be destroyed if we have to use our limited resources to further expand our military might. Big business that creates our armaments will prosper, but the American people will suffer.

© 2013 Ron Millar

February 1946

H.A. has his hands full brokering deals between workers and big business. Strife is high. Over two million workers have been on strike across the country in coal mines, steel mills, and railroads. The administration, and sometimes H.A. personally, jumped in to mediate the strikes. With price controls as a strong bargaining tool, H.A. was able to settle the strikes in the workers' favor. His efforts have brought higher wages to workers and are very gradually reducing price controls so the higher wages are not lost with the higher cost of consumer goods. The Whiskey Rebels claim this is Communism; however, things are much different in Russia.

Stalin’s new five-year plan forces his citizens to sacrifice consumer goods in favor of military needs. Stalin is building his military because he fears a conflict with American and our allies. The violent rhetoric from the Whiskey Rebels and their allies reinforces Stalins paranoia. This creates a cycle that supports both sides. The Whiskey leaders see the new five-year plan as a declaration of war and that the U.S. must respond in kind. If didn’t help that newspapers have reports of Soviet agents funneling atomic secrets from the U.S. to Moscow via Canada. This continues to inflate the fear mongers that the president’s administration is riddled with Communist sympathizers and spies who wanted the Soviets to have the bomb and take over the world. Adding fuel to the fire, George F. Kennan, our American charge d’affairs in Moscow sent a telegram expressing his fears of Communist expansion.

© 2013 Ron Millar

January 1946

Henry Hopkins died of stomach cancer, and the Whiskey Rebellion celebrated. Calling him one less “communist pro-Soviet voice – struck down by God for his anti-American efforts.” Hopkins was a very good man. A strong Iowan, like H.A, and a staunch defender of the New Deal. We was pro-American, not pro-Soviet. He worked diligently to keep the Soviets in the alliance to defeat the fascists. He had three sons serve in the war, and one died in action on a Pacific beach. The Hopkins family are real heros. Not the chest pumping, arm-chair warrior Whiskey Rebels.

If Mr. Hopkins was a communist then the word communist has lost all meaning -- except for its pejorative value. H.A. said, “The word ‘Communist’ is used so loosely nowadays that no one can say what the truth is. Anyone who is further to the Left than you are – and whom you don’t like – is a Communist.”

Hopkins is not the only tragic news.

Dr. Edward Barsky and other leaders of the Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee received subpoenas to appear before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. The subpoena also required the delivery to the Committee of the names of all donors and recipients of aid. They are refusing to cooperate and I fear they will be imprisoned for their political beliefs.

Much like the witch hunts of the dark ages, good people are going to be harmed from the anti-communist hysteria. I fear that dark times are coming again.

© 2013 Ron Millar

December 1945

H.A. and our allies in Congress were able to kill the May-Johnson bill [that would have maintained military control over atomic research – A.S.]. This month, H.A. was able to pass his legislation, the McMahon bill [Connecticut Senator Brien McMahon a Democrat]. This legislation allows H.A. to create a five-member civilian atomic energy commission [appointed by the president] and encourages civilian application of atomic energy. It also permits the international exchange of scientific information and supports the concept of United Nations control. Dr. Edward U. Condon, an eminent physicist who H.A. appointed to head the National Bureau of Standards, helped write the bill. This is one step in containing the atomic monster we have created.

The United Nations Commission on the control of atomic energy was created at the Foreign Minister Meeting in Moscow this month. Not just the U.S., but the entire world must work together for the peaceful use of atomic power. The meeting also produced an agreement with the Soviet Union to create a Joint Commission to make recommendations on how to unify Korea. We and our Soviet ally have divided the peninsula in half at the 38^th parallel. In another divided nation, the Soviets have also agreed to withdrawal their troops from Iran. British and Soviet forces had divided up the country during the war to oust their Nazi friendly leader [Reza Shah Pahlavi] and protect oil and rail lines there. Stalin was been dragging his feet on removing his forces, but I believe now that he knows he has an honest partner with H.A. he will come through on this promise. H.A. is fighting very hard against the anti-communists here in America to give Stalin the chance to be a friendly player in the world community. I don’t trust Stalin, but I hope for everyone’s sake that he uses this opportunity to demonstrate that the Soviets can continue to be our ally.

Speaking of old sores, I’ve made a complete recovery from last month. Two little bits of metal and a short wire decided that they needed liberating from my body. It’s uncomfortable, ugly, and messy, but my doctor says I don’t have to worry. Nothing inside me is life threatening. He says this will happen occasionally until the last bits of Spain escape my body.

On the domestic front, H.A. is working with his allies in Congress to revamp the tax structure to give economic incentives to businessmen willing to “expand production and create new industry.” He is also proposing to federalizing incorporation law to prevent “charter mongering” by states with weak statutes like Delaware. In addition, he is seeking to reform the patent system so it would not “be used as a weapon of oppression by large aggregates of wealth.” These changes will provide national leadership to allow innovate industries to thrive and advance our economy, prevent states from competing against one another in race to see who will provide the most giveaways to big business, and allow small businesses to compete against big business. H.A. is seeking to create a culture were businesses are active and productive members of our society, not greedy entities that seek to maximize their profits at the expense of our citizens, communities, and nation. Although I disagree with him, H.A. says capitalism itself need not be scraped. H.A. argues that the “perversion of its instruments” must be remedied. He says, there “are other ways to cure a headache than by decapitation.”

H.A. is finding that big business is not giving up on its perversions easily. They are sending, in historic numbers, lobbyists to Congress. These lobbyists are providing tremendous largess to the members who support them and threats to those who are opposed, or who are even slow to embrace their demands. The threats are not idle. The next Congressional election is just a little less than a year away, but candidates are already being recruited to run against members of Congress who do not succumb to the big business agenda. Money is also flowing to the Whiskey Rebels who are becoming more visible in our lecture halls and public spaces. They are also taking more and more space in newspaper columns and radio programs. This infusion of cash is allowing them to become more organized and visible and this visibility is attracting more and more adherents. I fear the shrillness of their attacks against anyone who supports H.A.’s efforts could drown out meaningful debate on our issues. We must do better to rally our supporters to counter the Whiskey Rebels and big business.

November 1945

I developed a sore today. This happens every so often. Pieces of Spain working their way out of my body. The timing is perfect. Friends took me to an air show yesterday. Air planes still give me the creeps. [Sections that follow were not transcribed. Subject described the panic that occurs with air planes. Describes air attacks in Spain. In one instance he hid in a ditch, but the explosion from the bombing blew off his pants and bits of his flesh. -A.S.]

In a wound to H.A.'s administration, Patrick Hurley [a Republican and former Secretary of War under Hoover -A.S.] publicly, and scathingly, resigned as U.S. ambassador to China without prior notification to the State Department. In his public statements he blamed the president and State Department staff [including John Stewart Service and John Paton Davies known communist sympathizers -A.S.] for the civil war in China by undermining Chiang Kai-Shek and promoting a Communist takeover there. H.A. asked George C. Marshall [former army chief of staff -A.S.] to replace Hurley and mediate an end to the civil war. Marshall requested that if the mediation failed, H.A. would back the Nationalists. H.A. refused because of the corruption and anti-democratic nature of the Nationalists. Marshall reluctantly agreed to go. The anti-communist fear mongers in the Congress and the War Department want to commit our soldiers to ensure the success of Chiang Kai-Shek and the Nationalists, but both H.A. and Marshall agree that U.S. troops should not be involved.

Hurley's resignation just added fuel to the fire of H.A.'s opposition including the crazy Whiskey Rebels.

October 1945

When conservative Democrats gained influence in Congress and the White House in 1938, H.A. saw The New Deal stall. He was determined not to let that happen on his watch, but events were working against him. With the end of the war we started rolling back some of the price controls on consumer products to encourage business to redirect their efforts from war to peace production. Unfortunately, the transition was not as quick as anticipated creating a shortage of some goods and an increase in prices. This inflation produced a reduction in the buying power of the average citizen. At the same time a series of strikes occurred to increase worker's wages. The conservative elements in both political parties painted the unions as self-serving, unpatriotic, and responsible for the higher prices. We are working to arbitrate the strikes so they are short and effective for the workers so that we can counter this impression. We are also working with business to help make the transition to a peace economy faster and smoother. We are going to slow down the removal of additional price controls until we obtain guarantees from business that they are ready for such measures. This is not helping H.A. make many friends with big business and the conservative elements in the Democratic Party. The Whiskey Rebels, whose ranks we are told are growing daily, are calling H.A. a Communist. It seems more and more fearful American believe H.A. is an agent of Stalin. One poll shows that over ten percent of the nation has embraced this insanity.

Undeterred H.A. is carrying forward FDR’s vision: national health care, full employment, and continuation of the Fair Employment Practices Commission. We will create the appropriate balance between business and workers to ensure that both prosper so that America prospers.

With almost seven months under my belt at the White House, I am becoming more confident in my abilities. Not everyone is happy with my role as the gatekeeper of the president and I have had a fair share of battles with some staff members. Fortunately, H.A. has consistently backed my position and duties.

Naturally, there are a lot of people in the White House who look like me, but they are relegated to the positions of maids, butlers, and cooks. Do not get me wrong these are important positions that are vital to the success of the White House and I admire the people doing these jobs. One of the staff members [chief butler, Alonzo Fields –A.S.] told me, his staff was “helping to make history. We have a small part, perhaps a menial part, but they can’t do much here without us. They’ve got to eat, you know.”

I would just like to see some of them have the opportunity to move into other positions, but the segregation culture is going to be very difficult to disburse. We have made advances, but they are slow and, so far, small.

Speaking of eating, F.D.R. and Eleanor actually had some integrated dinners. They knew it would be shocking to many. Their relative, President Theodore Roosevelt, caused an uproar when he had a White House dinner with Booker T. Washington. Washington was beloved by proper society because his stances did not threaten the supposed natural structure of society; however, having a President sit down and eat a meal with a person of his color was beyond the pale. Such a thing was just not done, well, perhaps once before. President Adams in 1798 had dinner with Joseph Bunel to discuss trade and security issues. Bunel was a leader of the Haitian revolution and was sent to Washington by President Toussaint Louvertute. This dinner was also met with outrage. None of our founding slaver Presidents would do such a thing, that is until Theodore Roosevelt.

Sadly, with the criticism of the Booker T. Washington dinner. The Roosevelt administration at first tried to deny the dinner occurred, then said it was lunch and not dinner, to further make the meal less damaging Roosevelt’s staff said that the President’s wife and daughters had not been at the event. I especially enjoyed this denial because proper society can never expose their women to these types of elements – it is just not safe. Who knows what this sage educator, orator, and author would do to them. Unreasonable fear is a power weapon and it has been used effectively for hundreds of years in this nation.

This may just have been a coincidence but a day after the dinner Roosevelt issued an order officially designating the president’s residence as the “White House.” Coincidence or not, it was fitting.

In fact Theodore Roosevelt was almost not president. When President William McKinley was shot at the World’s Fair in Buffalo in 1901 it was not the Secret Service, but James Benjamin Parker who subdued the attacker. Had McKinley’s doctors been competent, the president could have survived the attack due to Parker’s fast actions in preventing additional shots from being fired. Parker, a large but humble man, said, “…the life of the head of this country is worth more than that of an ordinary citizen and I should have caught the bullets in my body rather than the President should get them.” He continued, “I am a Negro, and I am glad that the Ethiopian race has whatever credit comes with what I did. If I did anything, the colored people should get the credit.” But they did not. Parker was a celebrity within our community, but the rest of society ignored him. Parker’s efforts were severely downplayed or simply left out of the official record of the assassination.

F.D.R. helped make advances in employment for my people in an Executive Order, but conservative Southern Democrats blocked many New Deal benefits from agricultural and domestic workers. They feared federal support for these workers would undermine the Southern culture. Although we will lose the vast majority of the south, the Democratic Party must become the leader against Jim Crow and segregation.

I will never forget April 9, 1939, when Marion Anderson sang on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. An integrated crowd of 75,000 enjoyed this performance, while the southern segregationists howled in horror. Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the DAR [the patriotic Daughters of the American Revolution - A.S.], and I fell in love with Eleanor. Just to assuage any fears from proper society, my love for her is completely platonic.