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Finding aid for the 1952 Steel Crisis pamphlets
6011
6011
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Title: 1952 Steel Crisis pamplets
Collection number: 6011
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.21 Linear feet
1 box
Date: 1947-1952, 1967 (bulk 1952)
Abstract: Collection of pamphlets from various unions and the United States government about the conflicts and strikes in the first
administration of President Harry S. Truman.
In the United States the end of World War II was followed by an uneasy transition from war to a peacetime economy. President
Truman was faced with the renewal of labor disputes that had remained in a dormant state during the war years, severe shortages
in housing and consumer products, and widespread dissatisfaction with inflation, which at one point rose by 6% in a single
month. In this polarized environment, a wave of strikes destabilized major industries, and Truman's response to them was generally
seen as ineffective. In the spring of 1946, a national railway strike, which had never happened in the country, led virtually
all passengers and their luggage to remain at a standstill for over a month. When the railway workers and coal miners turned
down a proposed settlement, Truman seized control of the railways and threatened to deal with the issue of striking workers
with use of the armed forces. While delivering a speech before Congress requesting authority for this plan, Truman received
the news that the strike had been settled.
In the 1950s the administration of President Truman experienced additional strikes that provoked a number of national crises.
The steel strike of 1952 was organized by the United Steel Workers of America against the steel industry. The strike was set
to begin on April 9, 1952, but Truman nationalized the American steel industry hours before it began. In response to bitter
disagreements over wage and price controls between the union membership and leadership, Truman instructed his Secretary of
Commerce, Charles W. Sawyer, to take control of a number of steel mills. Truman cited his authority as Commander in Chief
and the need to maintain an uninterrupted supply of steel for munitions for use in the Korean War. The Supreme Court found
Truman's actions unconstitutional and reversed the order in a major separation of powers, Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer.
The 6-3 decision stated that Truman's assertion of authority was too vague and was not rooted in congressional legislative
action.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
[Box/folder# or item name], 1952 Steel Crisis pamphlets, Collection no. 6011, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California
Pamphlets from unions and the United States goverment advocating for and/or condemning the seizure of the steel industry in
1952. Also included in the collection is a copy of the New York State Labor Law of 1927, a magazine of the 11th Convention
of the UAW-CIO, and a pamphlet published by the Telephone workers union about their strike.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Inland Steel Company. -- Archives
International Union, United Automobile Workers of America (CIO). -- Archives
Jones & Laughlin Steel Company. -- Archives
Marshall, Walter P. -- Archives
Procter & Gamble Company. -- Archives
Randall, Clarence B. (Clarence Belden), 1891-1967 -- Archives
Republic Steel Corporation. -- Archives
Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972 -- Archives
United Steel Workers of America. -- Archives
Labor unions--United States--History--20th century--Archival resources
Pamphlets
Periodicals
Publications
Steel industry and trade--United States--History--20th century--Archival resources
United States--History--20th century--Archival resources
United States--Politics and government--20th century--Archival resources