The Pittsburgh Press (February 7, 1946)
In Washington –
‘Good times’ may pull Truman administration back to public esteem
Continued Democratic control of Congress after November election is at stake
By Charles T. Lucey, Scripps-Howard staff writer
WASHINGTON – Political observers are saying that only a period of bulging prosperity can pull the Truman administration out of its recent decline in public esteem and continue Democratic control of Congress after the November election.
A few weeks ago, most Congress members might have given odds on the Democrats’ staying in power on Capitol Hill. But the talk has changed considerably since then.
The administration’s approach to the labor-management battle, the dogging of Mr. Truman’s legislative program and the scolding given the White House for nomination of Edwin W. Pauley as undersecretary of the Navy have left many top-ranking Democrats unhappy. That goes for both the so-called liberal and conservative wings.
The Republicans are taking hope. They figure Mr. Truman is doing more for them right now than they could do for themselves.
GOP gained in off-years
In the last two off-year congressional elections, the Republicans have been able to make heavy gains. In 1942, capturing 209 House seats, they came within shouting distance of taking over the speakership, committee chairmanships and customary patronage.
The Democrats know that their vote tends to fall off more in off-year elections than does the GOP vote. They’re hoping, by means of more diligent district-by-district organization and financial aid from Washington, to overcome this. This will be the first time in 14 years that they’re gone to the people without Franklin Roosevelt as their party leader. They’re wondering what this will mean in the size of the vote they can turn out.
‘Good times’ to help
Senators who are friendly to President Truman say their mail shows that the administration’s popularity has shipped.
But it’s a political axiom that it’s hard to beat the party in power if the country is enjoying “good times.” Some political leaders say that despite all the troubles Mr. Truman has had in recent weeks the “full dinner pail” could still give the Democrats their greatest strength in the fall campaign.
They reason that if the strikes are settled soon and industry is given the next few months to begin needed production fat pay checks by fall would be the administration’s greatest political asset.