Difference between revisions of "John Spargo"
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| − | '''John Spargo''' (1876–1966) | + | '''John Spargo''' (1876–1966), was a journalist and prominent Socialist in the [[Progressive Era]]. Spargo moved right and by 1917 became a leading anti-Communist |
| − | + | His ''The Bitter Cry of the Children'' (1906) was a classic Muckraking expose of harsh conditions of child labor in Maine. He started as socialist in britain, but spent most of his life in the United States, After 1910 he moved gradually to the right of the socialist movement, advocating a gradualist and anti-revolutionary interpretation of Marxism. He advocated American intervention in World War, and was an early and penetrating critic of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917. Spargo who composed the "Colby Note" of 1920 that formalized President [[Woodrow Wilson]]'s anti-communist doctrine. In 1917-21 he led the Social Democratic League of America (SDL), along with William English Walling. | |
| − | + | Spargo was liberal until he was shocked by Franklin D. Roosevelt's [[New Deal]] and its recognition of the Soviet Union in 1933. He spoke out in support of the Dies Committee on Un-American Activities in the late 1930s as it exposed Communists and Fascists inside the U.S. Spargo energetically supported [[Joe McCarthy]] and [[Richard Nixon]], as well as [[Barry Goldwater]] in the 1964 elections. | |
Ruotsila (2006) sees Spargo's odyssey as a logical and linear progression in which he successfully preserved the core of his [[Social Gospel]] even as he became a Republican activist. | Ruotsila (2006) sees Spargo's odyssey as a logical and linear progression in which he successfully preserved the core of his [[Social Gospel]] even as he became a Republican activist. | ||
==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
| + | * Radosh, Ronald. "John Spargo and Wilson's Russian Policy, 1920," ''Journal of American History'' 1965 52(3): 548-565, [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1890847 in JSTOR] | ||
* Ruotsila, Markku. ''John Spargo and American Socialism'' (2006) | * Ruotsila, Markku. ''John Spargo and American Socialism'' (2006) | ||
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<references/> | <references/> | ||
| − | [[Category:Former | + | [[Category:Former Liberals]] |
[[Category:Conservatives]] | [[Category:Conservatives]] | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spargo, John}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Spargo, John}} | ||
Revision as of 11:58, November 17, 2009
John Spargo (1876–1966), was a journalist and prominent Socialist in the Progressive Era. Spargo moved right and by 1917 became a leading anti-Communist
His The Bitter Cry of the Children (1906) was a classic Muckraking expose of harsh conditions of child labor in Maine. He started as socialist in britain, but spent most of his life in the United States, After 1910 he moved gradually to the right of the socialist movement, advocating a gradualist and anti-revolutionary interpretation of Marxism. He advocated American intervention in World War, and was an early and penetrating critic of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917. Spargo who composed the "Colby Note" of 1920 that formalized President Woodrow Wilson's anti-communist doctrine. In 1917-21 he led the Social Democratic League of America (SDL), along with William English Walling.
Spargo was liberal until he was shocked by Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal and its recognition of the Soviet Union in 1933. He spoke out in support of the Dies Committee on Un-American Activities in the late 1930s as it exposed Communists and Fascists inside the U.S. Spargo energetically supported Joe McCarthy and Richard Nixon, as well as Barry Goldwater in the 1964 elections.
Ruotsila (2006) sees Spargo's odyssey as a logical and linear progression in which he successfully preserved the core of his Social Gospel even as he became a Republican activist.
Further reading
- Radosh, Ronald. "John Spargo and Wilson's Russian Policy, 1920," Journal of American History 1965 52(3): 548-565, in JSTOR
- Ruotsila, Markku. John Spargo and American Socialism (2006)
references