Changes

Truman began with very high popularity ratings, but they plunged to the lowest on record. Democrats were unable to stop his renomination in 1948, but the far left nominated FDR's vice president [[Henry A. Wallace]], and Southern Democrats nominated [[Dixiecrat]] [[J. Strom Thurmond]]. Observers almost unanimously expected victory for the Republican candidate, Governor [[Thomas E. Dewey]], a liberal from New York.  Total astonishment greeted Truman's stunning election victory, as he reassembled the [[New Deal Coalition]] for the fifth consecutive victory, pulling in on his coattails a Democratic Congress.

Truman began with very high popularity ratings, but they plunged to the lowest on record. Democrats were unable to stop his renomination in 1948, but the far left nominated FDR's vice president [[Henry A. Wallace]], and Southern Democrats nominated [[Dixiecrat]] [[J. Strom Thurmond]]. Observers almost unanimously expected victory for the Republican candidate, Governor [[Thomas E. Dewey]], a liberal from New York.  Total astonishment greeted Truman's stunning election victory, as he reassembled the [[New Deal Coalition]] for the fifth consecutive victory, pulling in on his coattails a Democratic Congress.

Although the Democrats organized Congress in 1949, the [[Conservative Coalition]] of Northern Republicans and Southern Democrats was in control, and Truman was unable to pass much of his liberal Fair Deal program. Nevertheless, he pursued civil rights through executive orders, especially a 1948 order to end racial discrimination in the military. Blacks no longer remained in segregated units and were to receive equal treatment.<ref>Evans, Farrell (November 5, 2020). [https://www.history.com/news/harry-truman-executive-order-9981-desegration-military-1948 Why Harry Truman Ended Segregation in the US Military in 1948]</ref> Truman's failures to deal with "Korea, Communism and Corruption" forced him to withdraw from reelection in 1952 and gave the Republicans an opportunity to crusade against him and elect [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] in 1952.

Although the Democrats organized Congress in 1949, the [[Conservative Coalition]] of Northern Republicans and Southern Democrats was in control, and Truman was unable to pass much of his liberal Fair Deal program. Nevertheless, he pursued civil rights through executive orders, especially a 1948 order to end racial discrimination in the military. Blacks no longer remained in segregated units and were to receive equal treatment.<ref>Evans, Farrell (November 5, 2020). [https://www.history.com/news/harry-truman-executive-order-9981-desegration-military-1948 Why Harry Truman Ended Segregation in the US Military in 1948] ''History.com''. Retrieved July 27, 2023.</ref> Truman's failures to deal with "Korea, Communism and Corruption" forced him to withdraw from reelection in 1952 and gave the Republicans an opportunity to crusade against him and elect [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] in 1952.

Despite his common reputation as a hero for civil rights due to his FEPC efforts, Truman was a lifelong entrenched racist known for anti-black remarks even in his later years, in addition to ties with notorious [[Mississippi]] demagogue [[Theodore Bilbo]] during the 1930s, as well as deceptively participating in a political maneuver which killed the [[Anti-Lynching Bill of 1935]] ([[#Civil_rights_record|see below]]).

Despite his common reputation as a hero for civil rights due to his FEPC efforts, Truman was a lifelong entrenched racist known for anti-black remarks even in his later years, in addition to ties with notorious [[Mississippi]] demagogue [[Theodore Bilbo]] during the 1930s, as well as deceptively participating in a political maneuver which killed the [[Anti-Lynching Bill of 1935]] ([[#Civil_rights_record|see below]]).