Changes

Journalist John Flynn reported on an investigation by the Senate Committee on Campaign Expenditures. Similar abuses were found throughout the nation. {{quotebox|"The WPA foremen were given a sheet upon which they had to report on the standing of the reliefers in the political campaign. It became a part of [[Harry Hopkins|Mr. Hopkins]]' [[WPA]] organization in Kentucky to learn how many of the down-and-out had enough devotion to Franklin D. Roosevelt to be entitled to eat. It was not sufficient for an indigent Kentuckian to be just down and out and hungry. He had to believe that the President of the United States was his redeemer and had to be ready to register that belief at the polls. The reliefers were asked to sign papers pledging themselves to the election of the senior senator from Kentucky. They were given campaign buttons and told to wear them and there were instances where, if they refused, they were thrown off the WPA rolls.<br>All  this, of course, was in a Democratic primary where only Democrats could vote. But there were a lot of poor Republicans in Kentucky who couldn't vote in the Democratic primary so long as they were Republicans. So they were told to change their registration and become Democrats, or no WPA jobs for them.}}  

Journalist John Flynn reported on an investigation by the Senate Committee on Campaign Expenditures. Similar abuses were found throughout the nation. {{quotebox|"The WPA foremen were given a sheet upon which they had to report on the standing of the reliefers in the political campaign. It became a part of [[Harry Hopkins|Mr. Hopkins]]' [[WPA]] organization in Kentucky to learn how many of the down-and-out had enough devotion to Franklin D. Roosevelt to be entitled to eat. It was not sufficient for an indigent Kentuckian to be just down and out and hungry. He had to believe that the President of the United States was his redeemer and had to be ready to register that belief at the polls. The reliefers were asked to sign papers pledging themselves to the election of the senior senator from Kentucky. They were given campaign buttons and told to wear them and there were instances where, if they refused, they were thrown off the WPA rolls.<br>All  this, of course, was in a Democratic primary where only Democrats could vote. But there were a lot of poor Republicans in Kentucky who couldn't vote in the Democratic primary so long as they were Republicans. So they were told to change their registration and become Democrats, or no WPA jobs for them.}}  

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was born of pure [[progressive]] intentions: employment for young men, conservation work on public lands, and nondiscrimination. Republican Rep. Oscar DePriest, the only black member of Congress, made sure that the 1933 legislation that established the CCC banned [[discrimination]] based on “race, color, or creed.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was born of pure [[progressive]] intentions: employment for young men, conservation work on public lands. Republican Rep. Oscar DePriest, the only black member of Congress, made sure that the 1933 legislation that established the CCC banned [[discrimination]] based on “race, color, or creed.

The U.S. Army controlled CCC camp administration and operations, and its policy of racial segregation transferred easily to the new civilian workforce. Most of the CCC’s quarter million African-American enrollees served in segregated companies and were unable to attain positions of authority. Some Southern states categorically excluded blacks, arguing that they were needed for growing and harvesting cotton.

The U.S. Army controlled CCC camp administration and operations, and its policy of racial segregation transferred easily to the new civilian workforce. Most of the CCC’s quarter million African-American enrollees served in segregated companies and were unable to attain positions of authority. Some Southern states categorically excluded blacks, arguing that they were needed for growing and harvesting cotton.