Ownership of Means of Production

Supranational Integration

Government Role in Economic Planning

National Integration

Redistribution of Wealth

Electoral Participation

Social Welfare

Protection of Civil Rights

Secularization of Society

Interference with Civil Liberties

Support of the Military

State Department Left-Right Rating

Alignment with East/West Blocs

Soviet Expert Left-Right Rating

Anticolonialism

5.01 ownership of means of production

3, ac9

Republicans have consistently opposed the establishment of federal "_ valley" authorities, such as TVA, and have stood against federal governmental ownership of power facilities built in connection with such projects. Indeed, the party has continually worked to restore power developments to private enterprise. In addition, the party has supported the free enterprise system in common carrier transportation, and it has opposed the federal government's claim to oil in the tidelands off state coasts. (Harris, 1962--12)

5.02 government role in economic planning

2, ac9

The Republican Party opposes governmental planning in principle, and it has been true to its principle in most instances. Thus Republicans have opposed federal spending policies to accelerate growth in preference for the spurs of private initiative and investment. The 1952 platform opposed price and wage controls and the 1956 platforms praised the elimination of controls under a Republican administration. Specifically in the area of agriculture, the Republicans favored more flexible price supports than did the Democrats. On the other hand, Republicans have tended to accept economic planning under certain circumstances, and they specifically favored the role of the Federal Reserve System in controlling the economy and credit. (Porter and Johnson, 1966)

5.03 redistribution of wealth

2, ac8

The Republican program has advocated the reduction of taxes for low and middle income groups, but the party has backed legislative measures that have given even more favorable treatment to higher income groups. Thus Republicans have sought to cut taxes on stock dividends, have favored regressive sales and property taxes at local levels, and opposed increased corporation taxes. (Harris, 1962--154)

5.04 social welfare

1, ac9

Republican Party platforms in 1952 and 1960 emphasized the individual's responsibility to care for himself and opposed obligatory health insurance programs. Nevertheless, the party accepted the social security program once enacted and even suggested extending coverage of its provisions, although specific proposals extending such coverage were not pushed.

5.05 secularization of society

1, ac9

The first amendment of the U.S. Constitution enjoins Congress from making laws for the establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise. The Supreme Court has interpreted the "due process" amendment to the constitution as applying the first amendment to the states also, and virtually all of the Court's decisions upholding the latter have concerned state, and not national action. Congress, however, has taken actions which have given symbolic support to religion in general. In 1952, it memorialized the president to proclaim an annual day of prayer. In 1954, the phrase "under god" was inserted into the pledge of allegiance. In 1955, the phrase "in god we trust" was prescribed for all currency and coins. In 1956, the same phrase was adopted as the national motto (Van Alstyne, pp. 866-868). These actions received bipartisan support in the Congress and usually did not elicit a roll call vote. Some conflict appeared in the Congress in 1966, however, over a proposed constitutional amendment allowing prayer in public schools, with Republicans voting heavily for the measure, 27 to 3 (CQ Almanac, 1966, p. 516). On the other hand, Republicans have been more likely to invoke the separation of church and state in opposing bills to aid education which would indirectly finance catholic parochial schools.

5.06 support of the military

5, ac9

During the last years of Truman's administration, the Republicans took a moderate posture towards defense spending, urging in their 1952 platform only that our military services be "adequately supported" to defend the country and meet treaty obligations. Under Eisenhower however, the military budget assumed more importance to the party. By 1960, the Republican platform stated "that there is no price ceiling on American security."

5.07 alignment with east-west blocs

5, ac9

The Republicans and Democrats did not differ on this issue. Both parties saw the United States leading western Europe and the so-called "free world" in cautious confrontation with the USSR and the "communist bloc."

5.08 anti-colonialism

2 for 1st half, ac7

-1 for 2nd half, ac7

The U.S. was involved in neo- colonial relationships with a variety of countries during our time period. The Latin American countries taken together will provide the reference group for coding this variable. Republicans had fewer inhibitions about shaping the domestic politics of Latin American countries than did Democrats. Eisenhower's Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, became especially concerned about communism in Guatemala and its possible export to other Latin American nations. In 1954, the CIA sponsored an invasion of Guatemala by Guatemalan exiles which succeeded in bringing down the leftist Arbenz government. The 1956 Republican platform praised "the expulsion of the communist regime ruling Guatemala." By 1958, however, a shift in policy under Eisenhower could be detected. The U.S. withdrew its opposition to the establishment of an inter-American development bank, which lessened the importance of private capital in Latin American development. In 1960, the U.S. Also followed OAS policy by withdrawing support of the Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic. (Gil, 1971-- 209-221)

5.09 supranational integration

3, ac7

Republican platforms pledged support of the United Nations, but the UN was valued for its role in collective security and not as a supranational entity. On the issue of economic union, Republicans consistently have favored higher tariffs rather than free trade, although the difference between the parties eroded somewhat during the Eisenhower administration.

5.10 national integration

1, ac9

Especially in comparison with northern Democrats, Republicans in Congress tended to oppose policies which would increase the power of the federal government at the expense of the states.

5.11 electoral participation

5, ac9

The civil rights act of 1957 was specifically concerned with the right to vote--especially as it had been denied negroes in the south. Although this act emerged during the Eisenhower administration, it was sponsored by Attorney General Herbert Brownell and drew mixed feelings from others in the administration, including Eisenhower. Nevertheless, the Republicans in Congress tended to support legislation to insure universal suffrage.

5.12 protection of civil rights

4, ac9

Republican platforms repeatedly called for an end to racial discrimination. While the actions taken by the party to eliminate discrimination were not as strong as its platform statements, Republicans in Congress tended to give greater support to civil rights legislation than did Democrats.

5.13 interference with civil liberties

1, ac8

Republicans did not give as much attention to the matter of civil liberties and freedom of expression in their platforms as did the Democrats. Moreover, the party's record shows a greater readiness to interfere with freedom of expression when national security was threatened. Thus, the Republicans gave almost unanimous support to the establishment of a subversive activities control board in 1950, and during the Joseph McCarthy era, Republicans lined up more solidly in support of administration security measures.

5.14 / 5.15 U.S.--Soviet experts left-right ratings

U.S. says nothing

Soviets say 1, one of two parties of monopolistic capital in the USA. After the civil war, the party became a reactionary party of the upper bourgeoisie and a supporter of large monopolies.