THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM OF 1956

 

Interesting:

Declaration of Faith: 

On its Centennial, the Republican Party again calls to the minds of all Americans the great truth first spoken by Abraham Lincoln:

"The legitimate object of Government is to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done but cannot do at all, or cannot so well do, for themselves in their separate and individual capacities. But in all that people can individually do as well for themselves, Government ought not to interfere." 

Our great President Dwight D. Eisenhower has counseled us further: "In all those things which deal with people, be liberal, be human. In all those things which deal with people's money, or their economy, or their form of government, be conservative."

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We shall ever build anew, that our children and their children, without distinction because of race, creed or color, may know the blessings of our free land. 

We believe that basic to governmental integrity are unimpeachable ethical standards and irreproachable personal conduct by all people in government. We shall continue our insistence on honesty as an indispensable requirement of public service. We shall continue to root out corruption whenever and wherever it appears.

We are proud of and shall continue our far-reaching and sound advances in matters of basic human needs—expansion of social security—broadened coverage in unemployment insurance —improved housing—and better health protection for all our people. We are determined that our government remain warmly responsive to the urgent social and economic problems of our people. 

To these beliefs we commit ourselves as we present this record and declare our goals for the future.

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We are proud of our part in bringing into a position of unique authority in the world one who symbolizes, as can no other man, the hopes of all peoples for peace, liberty and justice. One leader in the world today towers above all others and inspires the trust, admiration, confidence and good will of all the peoples of every nation—Dwight D. Eisenhower.

 Immigration 

The Republican Party supports an immigration policy which is in keeping with the traditions of America in providing a haven for oppressed peoples, and which is based on equality of treatment, freedom from implications of discrimination between racial, nationality and religious groups, and flexible enough to conform to changing needs and conditions. 

 We believe that such a policy serves our self-interest, reflects our responsibility for world leadership and develops maximum cooperation with other nations in resolving problems in this area. 

 We support the President's program submitted to the 84th Congress to carry out needed modifications in existing law and to take such further steps as may be necessary to carry out our traditional policy. 

 In that concept, this Republican Administration sponsored the Refugee Relief Act to provide asylum for thousands of refugees, expellees and displaced persons, and undertook in the face of Democrat opposition to correct the inequities in existing law and to bring our immigration policies in line with the dynamic needs of the country and principles of equity and justice. 

We believe also that the Congress should consider the extension of the Refugee Relief Act of 1953 in resolving this difficult refugee problem which resulted from world conflict. To all this we give our wholehearted support.

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LABOR:

All workers have gained and unions have grown in strength and responsibility, and have increased their membership by 2 millions. Furthermore, the process of free collective bargaining has been strengthened by the insistence of this Administration that labor and management settle their differences at the bargaining table without the intervention of the Government. 

This policy has brought to our country an unprecedented period of labor-management peace and understanding.  The Eisenhower Administration will continue to fight for dynamic and progressive programs. 

The Middle East and Southeast Asia. 

The Middle East has been strengthened by the defensive unity of the four "northern tier" countries—Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan—which hold gateways to the vast oil resources upon which depend the industry and military strength of the free world. This was made possible by the liberation of Iran from the grip of the Communist Tudeh Party. Iran has again made its oil reserves available to the world under an equitable settlement negotiated by the United States. 

We have maintained, and will maintain, friendly relations with all nations in this vital area, seeking to mediate differences among them, and encouraging their legitimate national aspirations.

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This Republican Party platform was written 70 years ago.

The 1956 platform explicitly boasted about expanding Social Security and unemployment insurance. 

Today, under Trumpism, the GOP often advocates for entitlement reform, privatization, or limiting the scope of these social safety nets. The 1956 platform favored strengthening labor laws to help workers join unions and increasing the minimum wage. 

Under Trumpism, the current GOP generally embraces deregulation, right-to-work laws, and opposes unionization efforts, particularly at the federal level.  Also, the 1956 platform included expanding federal aid for hospital construction, low-cost care for older persons, and community assistance. 

But today, the Trumpist Party heavily focuses on shrinking the federal government, deregulation, and limiting federal healthcare mandates.

The 1956 platform promised protections and asylum for refugees. But under Trump, politicians lean heavily toward stricter border security, vetting, and limiting immigration. The shift away from the 1956 platform was not overnight. It shows a multi-decade transition from an era of moderate, establishment-led politics to the modern conservative movement heavily driven by libertarian and populist ideologies.

And on their 1956 declaration of moral integrity in our leaders, the GOP of 1956 would not recognize what has become of the GOP under the corrupt and immoral leadership of Trump and his cronies.