Henry A. Wallace

Henry Agard Wallace (October 7, 1888 – November 18, 1965) was the 33rd Vice President of the United States, the 11th Secretary of Agriculture, and the 10th Secretary of Commerce.

Vice Presidency

Wallace was elected in November 1940 as Vice President on the Democratic Party ticket with President Franklin D. Roosevelt. His inauguration took place on January 20, 1941, for the term ending January 20, 1945. He immediately set out to counter his predecessor John Nance Garner's characterization of the vice presidency as "not worth a bucket of warm piss".

Related Topics:
Franklin D. Roosevelt - January 20 - 1941 - 1945 - John Nance Garner - Piss

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Roosevelt named Wallace chairman of the Board of Economic Warfare (BEW) and Supply Priorities and Allocations Board (SPAB) in 1941. Both positions became important with the U.S. entry into World War II. As he began to flex his new-found political muscle in his position with SPAB, Wallace came up against the conservative wing of the Democratic party in the form of Jesse H. Jones, Secretary of Commerce. The two differed on how to handle wartime supplies.

Related Topics:
Board of Economic Warfare - Supply Priorities and Allocations Board - 1941 - World War II - Jesse H. Jones - Secretary of Commerce

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On May 8, 1942, Wallace delivered his most famous speech, which became known by the phrase "Century of the Common Man", to the Free World Association in New York City. This speech, grounded in Christian references, laid out a positive vision for the war beyond the simple defeat of the Nazis. The speech, and the book of the same name which appeared the following year, proved quite popular, but it earned him enemies among the Democratic leadership, among important allied leaders like Winston Churchill, and among business leaders and conservatives.

Related Topics:
May 8 - 1942 - Free World Association - New York City - Christian - Nazis - Winston Churchill

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In 1943 Wallace made a goodwill tour of Latin America, shoring up support among important allies. His trip proved a success and helped convince 12 Latin American countries to declare war on Germany.

Related Topics:
1943 - Latin America - Germany

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Wallace was far ahead of his time in trade relationships with Latin America. He convinced the BEW to add "labor clauses" to contracts with Latin American producers. These clauses required producers to pay fair wages and provide safe working conditions for their employees, and it committed the United States to paying for up to half of the required improvements. This met opposition from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

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1944, as FDR's health began to fail, there was a growing likelyhood that Wallace, as his running-mate in the upcomming presidential election, would succeed him. Thus due to concerns over his far left beliefs, perceived naivete regarding Joseph Stalin, and unorthodox New Age tendencies, the Democratic Party bumped Wallace from its ticket in 1944 They replaced Wallace with Missouri Senator Harry S. Truman as the new Vice Presidential candiate.

Related Topics:
Presidential election - Joseph Stalin - New Age - 1944 - Senator - Harry S. Truman

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