Steve Benen found something that has been rattling around on the borders of my consciousness for the last couple of weeks.
In 1954, President Eisenhower wrote a letter to his brother. “Should any political party attempt to abolish Social Security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history,” Ike said. The president acknowledged in the letter that there are some who advocate such nonsense, but added, “Their number is negligible and they are stupid.”
A half-century later, there can be little doubt that (1) Eisenhower wouldn’t recognize his own party; (2) he would think the contemporary GOP is, to use his word, “stupid”; and (3) Republicans are eager to test Eisenhower’s assessment of what the American mainstream is willing to tolerate.
One reason I wasn’t able to fully summon this was because I remembered it as having to do with H.L. Hunt, and that’s the context in which it was bubbling up. I think I wanted to use it to talk about climate change, which is a totally different way to use this quote. It turns out, though, that the original quote did include a reference to H.L. Hunt.
Now it is true that I believe this country is following a dangerous trend when it permits too great a degree of centralization of governmental functions. I oppose this — in some instances the fight is a rather desperate one. But to attain any success it is quite clear that the Federal government cannot avoid or escape responsibilities which the mass of the people firmly believe should be undertaken by it. The political processes of our country are such that if a rule of reason is not applied in this effort, we will lose everything — even to a possible and drastic change in the Constitution. This is what I mean by my constant insistence upon “moderation” in government. Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are H. L. Hunt (you possibly know his background), a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid.
Their numbers are no longer negligible.
