Wallace's Worldview |
Wallace's 1942 "Century of the Common Man" Speech
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"Henry A. Wallace Common Man Speech," YouTube video, 12:37, posted by "Cinema Insiders," August 3, 2015.
When Franklin Roosevelt nominated Henry Wallace to be his Vice President in 1941, he would be replacing John Nance Garner, a segregationist from the South. Wallace brought a very different worldview to the table. His ranging interests during his time as Secretary of Agriculture appealed to Roosevelt, who saw his broad attentiveness to issues beyond agriculture and New Deal enthusiasm as a promising sign that he would make a great contribution as Vice President. [1] In this new role, Wallace consistently fought for what would be called progressive policies today and almost single-handedly kept the flame of the New Deal alive. On May 8, 1942, he delivered this speech at the Commodore Hotel in New York in which refuted the so-called "American Century," coined by journalist Henry Luce and argued for the "Century of the Common Man." What he meant was establishing a post-war peace in which the common man would be able to create work to support their family and allow for future generations to give back to the world. All nations would work together to help one another prosper without any one taking over another. Wallace became the "champion of the common man." [2]
Documents Highlighting Wallace's Views on the Soviet Union (1944 Visit to Soviet Union)
As Vice President, Wallace was sent on good-will tours of Latin America, the Soviet Union and China. But, his time in the Soviet Union was what contributed to his eventual political downfall because he began to develop admiration and respect for the Soviet Union. He disagreed with the Truman administration's devilish depiction of the Soviet Union and their hostile policy towards them. He advocated for a policy of mutual respect and cooperation, a policy that would foster congenial relations between the two nations. President Truman and his administration did not see it this way. They believed that most actions taken by the Soviet Union were to support their broader plan of global hegemony. They thought that the only way to interact with the Soviet Union was to use a “get-tough” approach because presumably Soviets were unable to negotiate and would only respond with force. Wallace, on the other hand, was one of the very few officials in the administration to recognize that some Soviet actions were in fact, reactions that were provoked by certain U.S. moves that would alarm any country competing for influence. He continually insisted that the “get-tough” approach would only encourage the Soviets to do the same and inhibit any chance of productive negotiations. [4]
Wallace Loses Vice Presidential Re-nomination in 1944
News Articles Presenting Wallace's Views on Atomic Energy as Secretary of Commerce (1945-1946)
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As Secretary of Commerce, Wallace consistently clashed with President Truman and cabinet members over policy decisions regarding atomic energy control. He disagreed with Truman’s 1945 decision to withhold atomic secrets from the Soviet Union as well as his congressional request for universal military training. He voiced his concerns about rejecting Henry Stimson’s advice about an open exchange of atomic information and even testified in support of unrestricted scientific research in front of three Senate subcommittees. In his written comments to Stimson’s proposal, he supported the free interchange of atomic information because he believed it increased the chances of global cooperation and mutual trust. [7] He also noted that Truman’s military request ominously seemed to him a precursor to declaring another world war. Wallace’s ideas were not considered and Truman’s decision was solidified on November 15. [8]
Weeks later, Truman convened with British and Canadian leaders to negotiate a plan that would internationalize control of atomic energy, eradicate nuclear weapons, and establish a free interchange of scientific information, but these would be implemented step-by-step. Wallace strongly disagreed with using the step-by-step approach, presuming that the reason behind it was to keep atomic weapons under U.S. control for as long as possible. Wallace “once again set out to change Truman’s course." [9] At the following cabinet meeting, he openly voiced his disapproval of the proposed implementation, arguing that it was too incremental and one-sided. Wallace was even more appalled by the fact that the materials to craft the atomic bombs were left in the hands of a single person, General Leslie Groves (a known critic of late President Roosevelt). He directly expressed this concern to Secretary of War, Robert Patterson, as well as to Truman, writing in a private letter that he was “seriously disturbed,” upon finding that out. [10] At the next cabinet meeting, Truman stated that he did not want to know how many atomic bombs existed. In Wallace’s diary, he recalled that he responded to this remark during the meeting by saying, “Mr. President, you should know; also the Secretary of War should know, and the Secretary of the Navy,” and “I hammered with all the energy I could- to the effect that the president himself must have this information.” [11] Wallace later reflected on the situation as he wrote, “it is more and more evident that the President arrives at his decisions on the spur of the moment on the basis of partial evidence.” [12] |
Footnotes
[1] “Henry Agard Wallace, 33rd Vice President.” United States Senate, Accessed October 25, 2020. https://www.senate.gov/about/officers-staff/vice-president/VP_Henry_Wallace.htm.
[2] “Henry Agard Wallace, 33rd Vice President.” United States Senate, Accessed October 25, 2020. https://www.senate.gov/about/officers-staff/vice-president/VP_Henry_Wallace.htm.
[3] Henry Wallace, “Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, Volume IV,” Office of the Historian, Department of State, June 21, 1944.
[4] George C. Herring, From Colony to Superpower: U. S. Foreign Relations Since 1776 (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008), 605-611.
[5] “Henry Agard Wallace, 33rd Vice President.” United States Senate, Accessed October 25, 2020. https://www.senate.gov/about/officers-staff/vice-president/VP_Henry_Wallace.htm.
[6] "Text of Secretary Wallace's Letter to President Truman on U.S. Foreign Policy," New York Times, September 18, 1946, New York Times Archives.
[7] Richard Walton, Henry Wallace, Harry Truman, and the Cold War (New York: The Viking Press, 1976), 56-57.
[8] Walton, 59-60.
[9] Walton, 117.
[10] John C. Culver and John Hyde, American Dreamer: A Life of Henry A. Wallace (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2000), 414.
[11] Quoted in Richard Walton, Henry Wallace (New York: The Viking Press, 1976), 71.
[12] Walton, 71.
[1] “Henry Agard Wallace, 33rd Vice President.” United States Senate, Accessed October 25, 2020. https://www.senate.gov/about/officers-staff/vice-president/VP_Henry_Wallace.htm.
[2] “Henry Agard Wallace, 33rd Vice President.” United States Senate, Accessed October 25, 2020. https://www.senate.gov/about/officers-staff/vice-president/VP_Henry_Wallace.htm.
[3] Henry Wallace, “Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, Volume IV,” Office of the Historian, Department of State, June 21, 1944.
[4] George C. Herring, From Colony to Superpower: U. S. Foreign Relations Since 1776 (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008), 605-611.
[5] “Henry Agard Wallace, 33rd Vice President.” United States Senate, Accessed October 25, 2020. https://www.senate.gov/about/officers-staff/vice-president/VP_Henry_Wallace.htm.
[6] "Text of Secretary Wallace's Letter to President Truman on U.S. Foreign Policy," New York Times, September 18, 1946, New York Times Archives.
[7] Richard Walton, Henry Wallace, Harry Truman, and the Cold War (New York: The Viking Press, 1976), 56-57.
[8] Walton, 59-60.
[9] Walton, 117.
[10] John C. Culver and John Hyde, American Dreamer: A Life of Henry A. Wallace (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2000), 414.
[11] Quoted in Richard Walton, Henry Wallace (New York: The Viking Press, 1976), 71.
[12] Walton, 71.