Difference between revisions of "Robert Taft"
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| − | '''Robert A. Taft''' (1889-1953) was a leading [[conservative]] | + | '''Robert A. Taft''' (1889-1953) was a leading [[conservative]] in the 1940s and 1950s, serving Ohio in the U.S. Senate. His crowning achievement was writing and passing, over President Truman's veto, the [[Taft-Hartley Act]] of 1947. For 60 years this has defined labor law in the United States. It prohibits unfair union practices, bans closed shops, and allows the President to obtain an eighty-day cooling-off period for any strike that might threaten the national interest. |
The [[Taft-Hartley Act]] single-handedly ended a growing problem of strikes after World War II, and preserved capitalism in the United States. Ever since, Democrats have sought unsuccessfully for its repeal. | The [[Taft-Hartley Act]] single-handedly ended a growing problem of strikes after World War II, and preserved capitalism in the United States. Ever since, Democrats have sought unsuccessfully for its repeal. | ||
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His death was untimely, succumbing to cancer only six months after becoming the Senate Majority leader in 1953. He is honored with a special monument on Capitol Hill, and was selected in 1959 by senators as one of the five most significant senators in history. | His death was untimely, succumbing to cancer only six months after becoming the Senate Majority leader in 1953. He is honored with a special monument on Capitol Hill, and was selected in 1959 by senators as one of the five most significant senators in history. | ||
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Political people]] |
Revision as of 15:00, April 1, 2007
Robert A. Taft (1889-1953) was a leading conservative in the 1940s and 1950s, serving Ohio in the U.S. Senate. His crowning achievement was writing and passing, over President Truman's veto, the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947. For 60 years this has defined labor law in the United States. It prohibits unfair union practices, bans closed shops, and allows the President to obtain an eighty-day cooling-off period for any strike that might threaten the national interest.
The Taft-Hartley Act single-handedly ended a growing problem of strikes after World War II, and preserved capitalism in the United States. Ever since, Democrats have sought unsuccessfully for its repeal.
Known as "Mr. Republican", Taft came in second for the Republican nomination for president in 1948 and 1952, and also ran unsuccessfully for president in 1940. Conservatives felt that chicanery by his opponents caused his very narrow defeat at the Republican National Convention in 1952.
Taft was known best for his intelligence, based on his brilliant record as a student and his command of detail as a politician in Washington, D.C.
His death was untimely, succumbing to cancer only six months after becoming the Senate Majority leader in 1953. He is honored with a special monument on Capitol Hill, and was selected in 1959 by senators as one of the five most significant senators in history.
