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'''Harold Wilson''' (born James Harold Wilson) was the [[Labour Party|Labour]] Prime Minister of the [[United Kingdom]] from 1964-1970 and from 1974-1976. He was Member of Parliament for the [[Liverpool]] constituency of Huyton from 1945 until 1979.

'''Harold Wilson''' (born James Harold Wilson) was the [[Labour Party|Labour]] Prime Minister of Britain (the [[United Kingdom]]) from 1964-1970 and from 1974-1976. After losing in 1951, the Labour Party spent the next 13 years out of office and achieved little during the governments of Wilson and his successor James Callaghan (1976-79).  Their failures set the stage for the renewal of British energy and leadership under [[Margaret Thatcher]], beginning in 1979.[[File:Pimlott.jpg|thumb|350px]]

 

==Career==

==Career==

Born in 1916 and first elected to Parliament in 1945 he was appointed a junior minister in the Department of Trade immediately.  

Born in 1916 and first elected to Parliament in 1945 he was appointed a junior minister in the Department of Trade immediately. He was Member of Parliament for the [[Liverpool]] constituency of Huyton from 1945 until 1979.

 

==1964 election==

==1964 election==

The 1964 election marked a crucial moment in postwar British politics. Wilson's victory confounded those critics who believed that three successive defeats in the 1950s meant that the Labour Party was becoming electorally obsolete. The "road to 1964" compares favourably with that of [[Clement Attlee]] in 1945, the only previous occasion Labour had removed the Conservative Party from power to form a majority government. In many respects the two elections were very different. Participation in [[Winston Churchill]]'s wartime coalition gave Labour a credibility that helped to ensure a landslide in 1945, whereas Wilson's margin of victory - just four seats - was tiny.  One important similarity stands out. Historians now tend to play down the "onward march of socialism" as the driving force behind 1945, stressing instead disillusionment with wartime conservatism. In the same way too much credit should not be attached to the vote-catching appeal of Wilson and his vision of "scientific socialism." The root cause of 1964 lay in deep disenchantment with [[Harold Macmillan]]'s Tory administration. The Labour success in 1964 confirms the adage that elections are lost by governments rather than won by the opposition.  

The 1964 election marked a crucial moment in postwar British politics. Wilson's victory confounded those critics who believed that three successive defeats in the 1950s meant that the Labour Party was becoming electorally obsolete. The "road to 1964" compares favourably with that of [[Clement Attlee]] in 1945, the only previous occasion Labour had removed the Conservative Party from power to form a majority government. In many respects the two elections were very different. Participation in [[Winston Churchill]]'s wartime coalition gave Labour a credibility that helped to ensure a landslide in 1945, whereas Wilson's margin of victory - just four seats - was tiny.  One important similarity stands out. Historians now tend to play down the "onward march of socialism" as the driving force behind 1945, stressing instead disillusionment with wartime conservatism. In the same way too much credit should not be attached to the vote-catching appeal of Wilson and his vision of "scientific socialism." The root cause of 1964 lay in deep disenchantment with [[Harold Macmillan]]'s Tory administration. The Labour success in 1964 confirms the adage that elections are lost by governments rather than won by the opposition.  

Wilson won more general elections than any other British politician in the 20th Century. He won in 1964, 1966, and twice in 1974 although the February 1974 election resulted in a minority government. During his time in office he only once had a large majority (96 seats at the 1966 election) and struggled to get contentious legislation passed. Even so his legacy includes the [[Open University]] and the first steps toward British membership of the [[EEC]]. He also successfully kept Britain out of the war in [[Vietnam]].

Wilson won more general elections than any other British politician in the 20th Century. He won in 1964, 1966, and twice in 1974 although the February 1974 election resulted in a minority government. During his time in office he only once had a large majority (96 seats at the 1966 election) and struggled to get contentious legislation passed. Even so his legacy includes the [[Open University]] and the first steps toward British membership of the [[EEC]]. He also successfully kept Britain out of the war in [[Vietnam]].

===Relations with U.S.===

===Relations with U.S.===

In 1965, President [[Lyndon Johnson]] committed the United States to propping up Britain's pound sterling. In return he sought from Wilson's government such measures as support of deflationary policies and of American policies in the Vietnam War (he did not seek soldiers from britain). The initiative failed to materialize. Wilson defenders say the United States reneged after Wilson fended off American efforts to compromise Britain's sovereignty. Americans believe the change in US policy stemmed from new perceptions in the Johnson administration on Labour Party misrule in Britain. Americans concluded it was a mistake to indulge Britain in light of the Wilson government's unsatisfactory positions on Vietnam, its smaller contributions to European defense, its international monetary ideas, and its Middle Eastern policies.<ref> John Dumbrell, "The Johnson Administration and the British Labour Government: Vietnam, the Pound and East of Suez" ''Journal of American Studies'' 1996 30(2): 211-231. </ref>  

Although the United States and Britain have shared a "special relationship" in foreign relations since 1940, this link was weakened during the 1960s by several factors: differing foreign policy aims, varying national and international security ideas, and unfriendly personal relations between President [[Lyndon Johnson]] and Wilson. The relationship did not improve until the 1970s.

 

In 1965, Johnson proposed that the United States prop up Britain's pound sterling. In return he sought from Wilson's government such measures as support of deflationary policies and of American policies in the Vietnam War (he did not seek soldiers from britain). The initiative failed to materialize. Wilson defenders say the United States reneged after Wilson fended off American efforts to compromise Britain's sovereignty. Americans believe the change in US policy stemmed from new perceptions in the Johnson administration on Labour Party misrule in Britain. Americans concluded it was a mistake to indulge Britain in light of the Wilson government's unsatisfactory positions on Vietnam, its smaller contributions to European defense, its international monetary ideas, and its Middle Eastern policies.<ref> John Dumbrell, "The Johnson Administration and the British Labour Government: Vietnam, the Pound and East of Suez" ''Journal of American Studies'' 1996 30(2): 211-231. </ref>  

===High Tech===

===High Tech===

The Labour Party, out of power in the early 1960s, argued that Britain was lagging behind in science and technology. In 1963 Wilson, as party leader, pledged that a Labour government would lead the country through the "white heat" of a technological revolution. In fact, Britain in the 1960s spent more on research and development (R&D), both industrially and governmentally funded, than any other capitalist country besides the United States. The Labour government coming to power in 1964 found that Britain lacked not technology but strong industrial organization and management. Under [[Anthony Wedgwood Benn]], 1966-70, the Ministry of Technology attempted to rectify these deficiencies in high technology industries. This effort, only marginally successful, confirmed the lack of positive correlation between R&D and overall economic growth. Indeed, overexpenditure on "high tech" R&D could even be detrimental to such growth.<ref> David Edgerton, "The 'White Heat' Revisited: The British Government and Technology in the 1960s." ''Twentieth Century British History'' 1996 7(1): 53-82. </ref>  

The Labour Party, out of power in the early 1960s, argued that Britain was lagging behind in science and technology. In 1963 Wilson, as party leader, pledged that a Labour government would lead the country through the "white heat" of a technological revolution. In fact, Britain in the 1960s spent more on research and development (R&D), both industrially and governmentally funded, than any other capitalist country besides the United States. The Labour government coming to power in 1964 found that Britain lacked not technology but strong industrial organization and management. Under [[Anthony Wedgwood Benn]], 1966-70, the Ministry of Technology attempted to rectify these deficiencies in high technology industries. This effort, only marginally successful, confirmed the lack of positive correlation between R&D and overall economic growth. Indeed, overexpenditure on "high tech" R&D could even be detrimental to such growth.<ref> David Edgerton, "The 'White Heat' Revisited: The British Government and Technology in the 1960s." ''Twentieth Century British History'' 1996 7(1): 53-82. </ref>  

==Image==

==Image==

Wilson acquired a reputation as a somewhat devious, scheming figure. He cultivated a particular image of himself in the media, which included ostentatiously smoking a pipe, though in private he is said to have preferred cigars. He came from a working-class background, and retained a northern English working-class accent throughout his life.

Wilson acquired a reputation as a somewhat devious, scheming figure. He cultivated a particular image of himself in the media, which included ostentatiously smoking a pipe, though in private he is said to have preferred cigars. He came from a working-class background, and retained a northern English working-class accent throughout his life.

He died of colon cancer and Alzheimer's disease in 1995.

He died of colon cancer and Alzheimer's disease in 1995.

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

====References====

====References====

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