Who Cares? : Public Ambivalence and Government Activism From the New Deal to the Second Gilded Age

Americans like to think that they look after their own, especially in times of hardship. Particularly for the Great Depression and the Great Society eras, the collective memory is one of solidarity and compassion for the less fortunate. Who Cares? challenges this story by examining opinion polls and letters to presidents from average citizens. This evidence, some of it little known, reveals a much darker, more impatient attitude toward the poor, the unemployed, and the dispossessed during the 1930s and 1960s. Katherine Newman and Elisabeth Jacobs show that some of the social policies that Americans take for granted today suffered from declining public support just a few years after their inception. Yet Americans have been equally unenthusiastic about efforts to dismantle social programs once they are well established. Again contrary to popular belief, conservative Republicans had little public support in the 1980s and 1990s for their efforts to unravel the progressive heritage of the New Deal and the Great Society. Whether creating or rolling back such programs, leaders like Roosevelt, Johnson, Nixon, and Reagan often found themselves working against public opposition, and they left lasting legacies only by persevering despite it. Timely and surprising, Who Cares? demonstrates not that Americans are callous but that they are frequently ambivalent about public support for the poor. It also suggests that presidential leadership requires bold action, regardless of opinion polls. Americans Like To Think That They Look After Their Own, Especially In Times Of Hardship. Particularly For The Great Depression And The Great Society Eras, The Collective Memory Is One Of Solidarity And Compassion For The Less Fortunate. Who Cares? Challenges This Story By Examining Opinion Polls And Letters To Presidents From Average Citizens. This Evidence, Some Of It Little Known, Reveals A Much Darker, More Impatient Attitude Toward The Poor, The Unemployed, And The Dispossessed During The 1930s And 1960s. Katherine Newman And Elisabeth Jacobs Show That Some Of The Social Policies That Americans Take For Granted Today Suffered From Declining Public Support Just A Few Years After Their Inception. Yet Americans Have Been Equally Unenthusiastic Abotu Efforts To Dismantle Social Programs Once Their Are Established. Again Contrary To Popular Belief, Conservative Republicans Had Little Public Support In The 1980s And 1990s For Their Efforts To Unravel The Progressive Heritage Of The New Deal And The Great Society. Whether Creating Or Rolling Back Such Programs, Leaders Like Roosevelt, Johnson, Nixon, And Reagan Often Found Themselves Working Against Public Opposition, And They Left Lasting Legacies Only By Persevering Despite It. Timely And Surprising, Who Cares? Demonstrates Not That Americans Are Callous But That They Are Frequently Ambivalent About Public Support For The Poor. It Also Suggests That Presidential Leadership Requires Bold Action, Regardless Of Opinion Polls.--jacket. Devoted To The Common Good? -- Dissent And The New Deal -- Warring Over The War On Poverty -- Economic Anxiety In The New Gilded Age -- Searching For The Better Angels Of Our Nature. Katherine S. Newman And Elisabeth S. Jacobs. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [203]-210) And Index. Why major changes to America's social safety net have always required bold presidential leadershipAmericans like to think that they look after their own, especially in times of hardship. Particularly for the Great Depression and the Great Society eras, the collective memory is one of solidarity and compassion for the less fortunate. Who Cares? challenges this story by examining opinion polls and letters to presidents from average citizens. This evidence, some of it little known, reveals a much darker, more impatient attitude toward the poor, the unemployed, and the dispossessed during the 1930s and 1960s. Katherine Newman and Elisabeth Jacobs show that some of the social policies that Americans take for granted today suffered from declining public support just a few years after their inception. Yet Americans have been equally unenthusiastic about efforts to dismantle social programs once they are well established. Again contrary to popular belief, conservative Republicans had little public support in the 1980s and 1990s for their efforts to unravel the progressive heritage of the New Deal and the Great Society. Whether creating or rolling back such programs, leaders like Roosevelt, Johnson, Nixon, and Reagan often found themselves working against public opposition, and they left lasting legacies only by persevering despite it.Timely and surprising, Who Cares? demonstrates not that Americans are callous but that they are frequently ambivalent about public support for the poor. It also suggests that presidential leadership requires bold action, regardless of opinion polls. Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 8 List of Illustrations......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 14 Introduction: Devoted to the Common Good?......Page 20 1 Dissent and the New Deal......Page 30 2 Warring over the War on Poverty......Page 75 3 Economic Anxiety in the New Gilded Age......Page 131 4 Searching for “the Better Angels of Our Nature”......Page 168 Notes......Page 186 Bibliography......Page 222 B......Page 230 D......Page 231 G......Page 232 J......Page 233 N......Page 234 P......Page 235 S......Page 236 W......Page 237 Z......Page 238 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 8 List of Illustrations 10 Acknowledgments 14 Introduction: Devoted to the Common Good? 20 1 Dissent and the New Deal 30 2 Warring over the War on Poverty 75 3 Economic Anxiety in the New Gilded Age 131 4 Searching for “the Better Angels of Our Nature” 168 Notes 186 Bibliography 222 Index 230 A 230 B 230 C 231 D 231 E 232 F 232 G 232 H 233 I 233 J 233 K 234 L 234 M 234 N 234 O 235 P 235 Q 236 R 236 S 236 T 237 U 237 V 237 W 237 Y 238 Z 238 9780691135632 Americans like to think that they look after their own, especially in times of hardship. And for the Great Depression and the Great Society eras, the collective memory is one of solidarity and compassion for the less fortunate. This title challenges this story by examining opinion polls and letters to presidents from average citizens.