Walter Lippmann and the American Century — 23 An ‘Amiable Boy Scout”

1. 1. Lippmann initially believed Hoover was a reformer who would purify capitalism of its predatoriness, but later saw him as a victim of bad luck and temperamental weakness.
2. 2. Lippmann opposed federal relief to the unemployed, fearing it would corrupt recipients, and advocated for state-administered aid as the least demoralizing option.
3. 3. Lippmann criticized Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 as an amiable boy scout without firm convictions or a clear grasp of public affairs.
4. 4. Lippmann worked to block Roosevelt's nomination at the 1932 Democratic convention, promoting Newton D. Baker as a compromise candidate.
5. 5. By October 1932, Lippmann overcame his doubts and announced he would vote cheerfully for Roosevelt, citing FDR's development and the need for change.
6. 6. Lippmann's endorsement of Roosevelt caused outrage among Herald Tribune readers, leading to a confrontation with the Reids over editing his column.
7. 7. Lippmann believed the economic crisis threatened popular government and that a balanced budget was an extremely urgent necessity.
8. 8. Lippmann reversed his praise of J.P. Morgan bankers after the Pecora investigation revealed they paid no income taxes and offered favored stock deals.
9. 9. Lippmann saw the 1932 election as a choice between a worn-out Hoover and an untested Roosevelt, with no ideal candidate.
10. 10. Lippmann wanted an active president who could unify power, but worried about the tendency to over-govern.