Republican Party Platform of 1956

[olegramps]

It contrasts the distinct difference between the Eisenhower administration and today's Republican Party. The contrasts are especially glaring in regard to the Platfom's pro-labor, pro-union stance that are contained in the last paragraph of the Platform.

The following is a excerpt from the 1956 Republican Party Platform:

Labor
Under the Republican Administration, as our country has prospered, so have its people. This is as it should be, for as President Eisenhower said: "Labor is the United States. The men and women, who with their minds, their hearts and hands, create the wealth that is shared in this country—they are America."

The Eisenhower Administration has brought to our people the highest employment, the highest wages and the highest standard of living ever enjoyed by any nation. Today there are nearly 67 million men and women at work in the United States, 4 million more than in 1952. Wages have increased substantially over the past 3 1/2 years; but, more important, the American wage earner today can buy more than ever before for himself and his family because his pay check has not been eaten away by rising taxes and soaring prices.

The record of performance of the Republican Administration on behalf of our working men and women goes still further. The Federal minimum wage has been raised for more than 2 million workers. Social Security has been extended to an additional 10 million workers and the benefits raised for 6 1/2 million. The protection of unemployment insurance has been brought to 4 million additional workers. There have been increased workmen's compensation benefits for longshoremen and harbor workers, increased retirement benefits for railroad employees, and wage increases and improved welfare and pension plans for federal employees.

In addition, the Eisenhower Administration has enforced more vigorously and effectively than ever before, the laws which protect the working standards of our people.

Workers have benefited by the progress which has been made in carrying out the programs and principles set forth in the 1952 Republican platform. All workers have gained and unions have grown in strength and responsibility, and have increased their membership by 2 millions.

Furthermore, the process of free collective bargaining has been strengthened by the insistence of this Administration that labor and management settle their differences at the bargaining table without the intervention of the Government. This policy has brought to our country an unprecedented period of labor-management peace and understanding.

We applaud the effective, unhindered, collective bargaining which brought an early end to the 1956 steel strike, in contrast to the six months' upheaval, Presidential seizure of the steel industry and ultimate Supreme Court intervention under the last Democrat Administration.

The Eisenhower Administration will continue to fight for dynamic and progressive programs which, among other things, will:

Stimulate improved job safety of our workers, through assistance to the States, employees and employers;

Continue and further perfect its programs of assistance to the millions of workers with special employment problems, such as older workers, handicapped workers, members of minority groups, and migratory workers;

Strengthen and improve the Federal-State Employment Service and improve the effectiveness of the unemployment insurance system;

Protect by law, the assets of employee welfare and benefit plans so that workers who are the beneficiaries can be assured of their rightful benefits;

Assure equal pay for equal work regardless of Sex;

Clarify and strengthen the eight-hour laws for the benefit of workers who are subject to federal wage standards on Federal and Federally-assisted construction, and maintain and continue the vigorous administration of the Federal prevailing minimum wage law for public supply contracts;

Extend the protection of the Federal minimum wage laws to as many more workers as is possible and practicable;

Continue to fight for the elimination of discrimination in employment because of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry or sex;

Provide assistance to improve the economic conditions of areas faced with persistent and substantial unemployment;

Revise and improve the Taft-Hartley Act so as to protect more effectively the rights of labor unions, management, the individual worker, and the public. The protection of the right of workers to organize into unions and to bargain collectively is the firm and permanent policy of the Eisenhower Administration. In 1954, 1955 and again in 1956, President Eisenhower recommended constructive amendments to this Act. The Democrats in Congress have consistently blocked these needed changes by parliamentary maneuvers. The Republican Party pledges itself to overhaul and improve the Taft-Hartley Act along the lines of these recommendations.

[virgogal]

1. This was the year I voted for POTUS for the first time.

Ike of course,even in my blue collar neighborhood in Boston.

[olegramps]

7. I would like to add that I was a boy when Ike used to vacation in Colorado.

He loved to fish and they would stock the Tabernash so he could fly fish. He would invite all the kids from the area to fish the stream. What a contrast between then and now. I have to add it wasn't a photo op either. I never saw a reporter.

[virgogal]

10. Simpler times,simpler times. I miss them.

[damntexdem]

9. Somewhat younger, that WAS the first election I became aware of politics.

Especially because my Catholic parents were all excited about this young Catholic politician who early-on vied for a place on the ticket: John F. Kennedy.

I didn't get to vote for the first time until 1968, when I had to vote for Humphrey against Nixon.

[virgogal]

11. And you voted for Nixon,of course. :-)

[madfloridian]

2. Good to remember that. Now look what our own party is doing to unions.

I especially note the harm being done to teachers' unions. Arne's money will go to those districts that actually break union contracts to do what he wants them to do.

We have gone so far right in our party we are heading backwards.

Recommended.

[Hello_Kitty]

3. Pretty amazing. eom

[Barack2theFuture]

4. WAY to the left of Obama

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. if that's the repub party platform, the Democratic party platform

must read like the communist manifesto.

[LeftinOH]

6. The Democratic Party of the era was a real Jekyl & Hyde split personality;

that self-defeating alliance of Dixiecrat segregationists and progressive New Englanders. What a mess.

[Sherman A1]

8. makes you want to join the GOP of 1956

they are pretty far left of what we see today, I will add however a caution from my Mom who was born when Woodrow Wilson was in office and grew up during the Depression.

"When Democrats are in office my wallet gets thicker, When Republicans are in office it gets thinner".

She also passed along the saying that Truman proved that anyone could be President, Eisenhower proved the country could run without one.

[Gold Metal Flake]

12. Look at all the motherfucking ponies.

See how far we've fallen?

[blindpig]

13. It was the Cold War

There was another Idea around, Capital had to mind it's p's&q's. Not now.