Party Politics – Volume 3 – The Changing of the Tides

In 1907, Roosevelt identified himself with the left-center of the Republican Party. He explained his balancing act:

Again and again, in my public career, I have had to make head against mob spirit, against the tendency of poor, ignorant, and turbulent people who feel rancorous jealousy and hatred of those who are better off. But during the last few years, it has been the wealthy corruptionists of enormous fortune, and of enormous influence through their agents of the press, pulpit, colleges, and public life, with whom I've had to wage bitter war."

-Wikipedia.Org

After the great debate over slavery and Civil War ended. Teddy Roosevelt was one of the first to alter the party platforms of Republicans and Democrats once again. He won the Presidency as a Republican in 1901-1909. He brought an ending to prohibition and set up a social welfare system while in office, along with inviting the first African American to dine at the White House. During these terms under the Republican nomination, he apparently identified a divide and witnessed the corruption on both sides. This led to the creation of his own party in 1912. The former Republican ran his third term attempt at nomination as a Progressive. The President was in favor of women’s suffrage, tax reduction, and social reforms. He supported the efforts of Jane Addams during these years. There is some debate online about whether Teddy was in fact a Republican or a Democrat but, he, in fact, ran twice as a Republican.

In 1921, Democratic President Wilson enacted the Jim Crow laws. In 1923, Republican President Harding encouraged black voters to show up to the polls. Up until about 1948, Democrats were for states’ rights over federal law and against all civil rights activities.

1953, Democratic President Truman, enacts fair employment and voting rights and equal treatment and opportunity to military servicemen, despite their race.

1961, Republican President Eisenhower used the federal government to intervene in demonstrations preventing school integrations.

1963, J.F. Kennedy runs as a democrat and really, sets and drives a platform and true agenda like no other president prior had. Though there are still many discrepancies from the current democratic platform, many of the initiatives he undertook were held for a very long time. Kennedy believed in a strong military, he raised taxes on the wealthy and cut state income and corporate taxes, and increased the country’s international affairs. He was one of only a handful of Presidents to hold an NRA license, however. He was a strong supporter of the second amendment and really did not believe in affirmative action – though he did much to make strides in the integration of schools and workplaces. Also, of note, Republican Mitt Romney, received a JFK ‘Profile in Courage’ Award just this year.

“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

1963, we still see some crossing of party ideals with Republican President Nixon ending the Vietnam war and the draft while being the first to institute an Environmental policy and first to support affirmative action. He was a strong proponent of equal rights and appointed more women while in office than former Presidents. He was of course, into wiretapping, so that turned out to be a problem.

President Ronald Reagan said: "I didn't leave the Democratic Party. The party left me." The former Democrat turned Republican set a heavy stage for the Republican party to grow from. He promoted free-market trade, tax cuts (though he raised taxes), peace through strength opposing government involvement in foreign affairs. Implemented new immigration laws making it more difficult for people to enter the country, opposed welfare and government-funded education and was not big on civil rights, and started the War on Drugs. (circa 1980)

These two presidents, JFK and Reagan really set a tone within each party. To this day, democrats revere JFK and Republicans revere Reagan.

Next month we will discuss the presidents, of my lifetime…yes this does include George H W Bush…I may be the eldest contributor here!