Manufacturing power: The organizational revival of the national association of manufacturers, 1941-1945

Business History Review

Volumn 72, Issue 2, 1998, Pages 279-317

  Workman, Andrew A ^a  

^a MILLS COLLEGE   (United States)

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[No Author keywords available]

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EID: 0032328713     PISSN: 00076805     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.2307/3116279     Document Type: Article

References (58)

1. Robert Griffith, "Forging America's Postwar Order: Domestic Politics and Political Economy in the Age of Truman," in The Truman Presidency, ed. Michael J. Lacey (New York, 1989), 60-68, 73-74; Clark Kerr, "Employer Policies in Industrial Relations, 1945-1947," in Labor in Postwar America, eds. Colston E. Warne et al (Brooklyn, N.Y., 1949), 43-76; Richard W. Gable, "NAM: Influential Lobby or Kiss of Death?" Journal of Politics 15 (1953): 254-273; Alfred S. Cleveland, "NAM, Spokesman for Industry?" Harvard Business Review 26 (1948): 353-369. On NAM's postwar public relations campaign, see Elizabeth Fones-Wolf, Selling Free Enterprise: The Business Assault on Labor and Liberalism, 1945-1960 (Urbana, 1994), passim.
2. Robert Griffith, "Forging America's Postwar Order: Domestic Politics and Political Economy in the Age of Truman," in The Truman Presidency, ed. Michael J. Lacey (New York, 1989), 60-68, 73-74; Clark Kerr, "Employer Policies in Industrial Relations, 1945-1947," in Labor in Postwar America, eds. Colston E. Warne et al (Brooklyn, N.Y., 1949), 43-76; Richard W. Gable, "NAM: Influential Lobby or Kiss of Death?" Journal of Politics 15 (1953): 254-273; Alfred S. Cleveland, "NAM, Spokesman for Industry?" Harvard Business Review 26 (1948): 353-369. On NAM's postwar public relations campaign, see Elizabeth Fones-Wolf, Selling Free Enterprise: The Business Assault on Labor and Liberalism, 1945-1960 (Urbana, 1994), passim.
3. Robert Griffith, "Forging America's Postwar Order: Domestic Politics and Political Economy in the Age of Truman," in The Truman Presidency, ed. Michael J. Lacey (New York, 1989), 60-68, 73-74; Clark Kerr, "Employer Policies in Industrial Relations, 1945-1947," in Labor in Postwar America, eds. Colston E. Warne et al (Brooklyn, N.Y., 1949), 43-76; Richard W. Gable, "NAM: Influential Lobby or Kiss of Death?" Journal of Politics 15 (1953): 254-273; Alfred S. Cleveland, "NAM, Spokesman for Industry?" Harvard Business Review 26 (1948): 353-369. On NAM's postwar public relations campaign, see Elizabeth Fones-Wolf, Selling Free Enterprise: The Business Assault on Labor and Liberalism, 1945-1960 (Urbana, 1994), passim.
4. Robert Griffith, "Forging America's Postwar Order: Domestic Politics and Political Economy in the Age of Truman," in The Truman Presidency, ed. Michael J. Lacey (New York, 1989), 60-68, 73-74; Clark Kerr, "Employer Policies in Industrial Relations, 1945-1947," in Labor in Postwar America, eds. Colston E. Warne et al (Brooklyn, N.Y., 1949), 43-76; Richard W. Gable, "NAM: Influential Lobby or Kiss of Death?" Journal of Politics 15 (1953): 254-273; Alfred S. Cleveland, "NAM, Spokesman for Industry?" Harvard Business Review 26 (1948): 353-369. On NAM's postwar public relations campaign, see Elizabeth Fones-Wolf, Selling Free Enterprise: The Business Assault on Labor and Liberalism, 1945-1960 (Urbana, 1994), passim.
5. Robert Griffith, "Forging America's Postwar Order: Domestic Politics and Political Economy in the Age of Truman," in The Truman Presidency, ed. Michael J. Lacey (New York, 1989), 60-68, 73-74; Clark Kerr, "Employer Policies in Industrial Relations, 1945-1947," in Labor in Postwar America, eds. Colston E. Warne et al (Brooklyn, N.Y., 1949), 43-76; Richard W. Gable, "NAM: Influential Lobby or Kiss of Death?" Journal of Politics 15 (1953): 254-273; Alfred S. Cleveland, "NAM, Spokesman for Industry?" Harvard Business Review 26 (1948): 353-369. On NAM's postwar public relations campaign, see Elizabeth Fones-Wolf, Selling Free Enterprise: The Business Assault on Labor and Liberalism, 1945-1960 (Urbana, 1994), passim.
6. Barton J. Bernstein, "The Truman Administration and its Reconversion Wage Policy" Labor History 6 (Fall 1965): 215-231; Dubofsky, The State and Labor, 191-194; Nelson Lichtenstein, The Most Dangerous Man in Detroit: Walter Reuther and the Fate of American Labor (New York, 1996), 228-229 and Labor's War At Home, 219; James A. Gross, The Reshaping of the National Labor Relations Board: National Labor Policy in Transition, 1937-1947 (Albany, N.Y., 1981), 261; Harris, The Right to Manage, 110-125.
7. Barton J. Bernstein, "The Truman Administration and its Reconversion Wage Policy" Labor History 6 (Fall 1965): 215-231; Dubofsky, The State and Labor, 191-194; Nelson Lichtenstein, The Most Dangerous Man in Detroit: Walter Reuther and the Fate of American Labor (New York, 1996), 228-229 and Labor's War At Home, 219; James A. Gross, The Reshaping of the National Labor Relations Board: National Labor Policy in Transition, 1937-1947 (Albany, N.Y., 1981), 261; Harris, The Right to Manage, 110-125.
8. Barton J. Bernstein, "The Truman Administration and its Reconversion Wage Policy" Labor History 6 (Fall 1965): 215-231; Dubofsky, The State and Labor, 191-194; Nelson Lichtenstein, The Most Dangerous Man in Detroit: Walter Reuther and the Fate of American Labor (New York, 1996), 228-229 and Labor's War At Home, 219; James A. Gross, The Reshaping of the National Labor Relations Board: National Labor Policy in Transition, 1937-1947 (Albany, N.Y., 1981), 261; Harris, The Right to Manage, 110-125.
9. Barton J. Bernstein, "The Truman Administration and its Reconversion Wage Policy" Labor History 6 (Fall 1965): 215-231; Dubofsky, The State and Labor, 191-194; Nelson Lichtenstein, The Most Dangerous Man in Detroit: Walter Reuther and the Fate of American Labor (New York, 1996), 228-229 and Labor's War At Home, 219; James A. Gross, The Reshaping of the National Labor Relations Board: National Labor Policy in Transition, 1937-1947 (Albany, N.Y., 1981), 261; Harris, The Right to Manage, 110-125.
10. Barton J. Bernstein, "The Truman Administration and its Reconversion Wage Policy" Labor History 6 (Fall 1965): 215-231; Dubofsky, The State and Labor, 191-194; Nelson Lichtenstein, The Most Dangerous Man in Detroit: Walter Reuther and the Fate of American Labor (New York, 1996), 228-229 and Labor's War At Home, 219; James A. Gross, The Reshaping of the National Labor Relations Board: National Labor Policy in Transition, 1937-1947 (Albany, N.Y., 1981), 261; Harris, The Right to Manage, 110-125.
11. Barton J. Bernstein, "The Truman Administration and its Reconversion Wage Policy" Labor History 6 (Fall 1965): 215-231; Dubofsky, The State and Labor, 191-194; Nelson Lichtenstein, The Most Dangerous Man in Detroit: Walter Reuther and the Fate of American Labor (New York, 1996), 228-229 and Labor's War At Home, 219; James A. Gross, The Reshaping of the National Labor Relations Board: National Labor Policy in Transition, 1937-1947 (Albany, N.Y., 1981), 261; Harris, The Right to Manage, 110-125.
12. Jack Alexander, "Young Man in a Snakeskin Belt" Saturday Evening Post, 28 Aug. 1945, 10-11; Donald C. Blaisdell, Economic Power and Political Pressures (Washington, D.C., 1941), 25-37.
13. Jack Alexander, "Young Man in a Snakeskin Belt" Saturday Evening Post, 28 Aug. 1945, 10-11; Donald C. Blaisdell, Economic Power and Political Pressures (Washington, D.C., 1941), 25-37.
14. On corporate liberals, see Kim McQuaid, "Corporate Liberalism in the American Business Community: 1920-1940," Business History Review 52 (Autumn 1978): 342-368;
15. On the conference, see Benjamin Stephansky, "The Wartime Industry-Labor Conference of Dec. 17-23, 1941," Entry 75, box 475, NWLB Papers; Franklin D. Roosevelt to William Bart, 11 Dec. 1941 and William Bart to President [Franklin D. Roosevelt], 13 Dec. 1941, Entry 75, box 474, NWLB Papers.
16. Franklin D. Roosevelt to Gentlemen of the Conference, 23 Dec. 1941, Congressional Record, 15 Jan. 1942, 77th Cong., 2nd sess.: 375.
17. "Statement by the Employer Members of the President's Labor-Industry Conference,"
18. Alfred S. Cleveland, "Some Political Aspects of Organized Industry" (Ph.D. diss., Harvard University, 1948), 160-221; Richard W. Gable, "A Political Analysis of an Employers' Association: The National Association of Manufacturers" (Ph.D. diss., University of Chicago, 1951), 230-245.
19. Alfred S. Cleveland, "Some Political Aspects of Organized Industry" (Ph.D. diss., Harvard University, 1948), 160-221; Richard W. Gable, "A Political Analysis of an Employers' Association: The National Association of Manufacturers" (Ph.D. diss., University of Chicago, 1951), 230-245.
20. For an analysis of the predominance of large corporations, see Philip Burch, "NAM as an Interest Group," Politics and Society (1973): 97-130 and Gable, "A Political Analysis," 190-198, 231-242. Gable reports that 125 companies had effective control of the NAM executive committee between 1933 and 1946. Of these, for which figures were available, none employed fewer than five hundred workers and nearly half employed more than five thousand.
21. For an analysis of the predominance of large corporations, see Philip Burch, "NAM as an Interest Group," Politics and Society (1973): 97-130 and Gable, "A Political Analysis," 190-198, 231-242. Gable reports that 125 companies had effective control of the NAM executive committee between 1933 and 1946. Of these, for which figures were available, none employed fewer than five hundred workers and nearly half employed more than five thousand.
22. Henry D. Steinmetz, "Mr. Private Enterprise," Liberty, 1 Feb. 1947, 23-24, 198, 100; Weisenburger Obituary, New York Times, 24 June 1947; Philip Burch, "NAM as an Interest Group," Politics and Society (1973): 97-130 contains an account of NAM's support during the New Deal Era. See also Richard S. Tedlow, "The National Association of Manufacturers and Public Relations during the New Deal," Business History Review 50 (Spring 1976): 25-45 and Fones-Wolf, Selling Free Enterprise, 16-31. See Richard W. Gable, "NAM: Influential Lobby or Kiss of Death?" Journal of Politics 15 (1953): 254-273 for a description of NAM's internal organization.
23. Henry D. Steinmetz, "Mr. Private Enterprise," Liberty, 1 Feb. 1947, 23-24, 198, 100; Weisenburger Obituary, New York Times, 24 June 1947; Philip Burch, "NAM as an Interest Group," Politics and Society (1973): 97-130 contains an account of NAM's support during the New Deal Era. See also Richard S. Tedlow, "The National Association of Manufacturers and Public Relations during the New Deal," Business History Review 50 (Spring 1976): 25-45 and Fones-Wolf, Selling Free Enterprise, 16-31. See Richard W. Gable, "NAM: Influential Lobby or Kiss of Death?" Journal of Politics 15 (1953): 254-273 for a description of NAM's internal organization.
24. Henry D. Steinmetz, "Mr. Private Enterprise," Liberty, 1 Feb. 1947, 23-24, 198, 100; Weisenburger Obituary, New York Times, 24 June 1947; Philip Burch, "NAM as an Interest Group," Politics and Society (1973): 97-130 contains an account of NAM's support during the New Deal Era. See also Richard S. Tedlow, "The National Association of Manufacturers and Public Relations during the New Deal," Business History Review 50 (Spring 1976): 25-45 and Fones-Wolf, Selling Free Enterprise, 16-31. See Richard W. Gable, "NAM: Influential Lobby or Kiss of Death?" Journal of Politics 15 (1953): 254-273 for a description of NAM's internal organization.
25. Henry D. Steinmetz, "Mr. Private Enterprise," Liberty, 1 Feb. 1947, 23-24, 198, 100; Weisenburger Obituary, New York Times, 24 June 1947; Philip Burch, "NAM as an Interest Group," Politics and Society (1973): 97-130 contains an account of NAM's support during the New Deal Era. See also Richard S. Tedlow, "The National Association of Manufacturers and Public Relations during the New Deal," Business History Review 50 (Spring 1976): 25-45 and Fones-Wolf, Selling Free Enterprise, 16-31. See Richard W. Gable, "NAM: Influential Lobby or Kiss of Death?" Journal of Politics 15 (1953): 254-273 for a description of NAM's internal organization.
26. Henry D. Steinmetz, "Mr. Private Enterprise," Liberty, 1 Feb. 1947, 23-24, 198, 100; Weisenburger Obituary, New York Times, 24 June 1947; Philip Burch, "NAM as an Interest Group," Politics and Society (1973): 97-130 contains an account of NAM's support during the New Deal Era. See also Richard S. Tedlow, "The National Association of Manufacturers and Public Relations during the New Deal," Business History Review 50 (Spring 1976): 25-45 and Fones-Wolf, Selling Free Enterprise, 16-31. See Richard W. Gable, "NAM: Influential Lobby or Kiss of Death?" Journal of Politics 15 (1953): 254-273 for a description of NAM's internal organization.
27. Henry D. Steinmetz, "Mr. Private Enterprise," Liberty, 1 Feb. 1947, 23-24, 198, 100; Weisenburger Obituary, New York Times, 24 June 1947; Philip Burch, "NAM as an Interest Group," Politics and Society (1973): 97-130 contains an account of NAM's support during the New Deal Era. See also Richard S. Tedlow, "The National Association of Manufacturers and Public Relations during the New Deal," Business History Review 50 (Spring 1976): 25-45 and Fones-Wolf, Selling Free Enterprise, 16-31. See Richard W. Gable, "NAM: Influential Lobby or Kiss of Death?" Journal of Politics 15 (1953): 254-273 for a description of NAM's internal organization.
28. Tedlow, "The National Association," 32-34; "NIIC Annual Report," 1945, Series 3, box 842, file: NIIC 1941-1943, National Industrial Conference Committee Papers, Group 1411, Hagley Memorial Library, Wilmington, Del. [hereafter: NIIC Papers].
29. Tedlow, "The National Association," 32-34; "NIIC Annual Report," 1945, Series 3, box 842, file: NIIC 1941-1943, National Industrial Conference Committee Papers, Group 1411, Hagley Memorial Library, Wilmington, Del. [hereafter: NIIC Papers].
30. Gross, The Reshaping of the National Labor Relations, 72-109; Tedlow, "The National Association of Manufacturers," 22-45; Fones-Wolf, Selling Free Enterprise, 16-31.
31. Gross, The Reshaping of the National Labor Relations, 72-109; Tedlow, "The National Association of Manufacturers," 22-45; Fones-Wolf, Selling Free Enterprise, 16-31.
32. Gross, The Reshaping of the National Labor Relations, 72-109; Tedlow, "The National Association of Manufacturers," 22-45; Fones-Wolf, Selling Free Enterprise, 16-31.
33. Harris, Right to Manage, 108.
34. "Recommendations Regarding the Integration of NAM and NIIC Public Relations Functions," 13 Nov. 1944 and "A New Public Relations Policy for NAM," 13 Nov. 1944, series 3 box 842, file: NAM Executive Committee, NIIC Papers; Walter Weisenburger to C. E. Harrison, series 3, box 844, file Key Documents 1942-1945 NIIC Papers.
35. "Recommendations Regarding the Integration of NAM and NIIC Public Relations Functions," 13 Nov. 1944 and "A New Public Relations Policy for NAM," 13 Nov. 1944, series 3 box 842, file: NAM Executive Committee, NIIC Papers; Walter Weisenburger to C. E. Harrison, series 3, box 844, file Key Documents 1942-1945 NIIC Papers.
36. C. E. Harrison to Mr. Weisenburger, "Analysis of NIIC Program and Recommendations for 1945," 12 Oct. 1944 and W. B. Weisenburger, "Points for Discussion with Mr. Wampler," 29 Jan. 1945, series 3, box 844, file: Key Documents 1942-1945, NIIC Papers.
37. C. E. Harrison to Mr. Weisenburger, "Analysis of NIIC Program and Recommendations for 1945," 12 Oct. 1944 and W. B. Weisenburger, "Points for Discussion with Mr. Wampler," 29 Jan. 1945, series 3, box 844, file: Key Documents 1942-1945, NIIC Papers.
38. "A 'New' C. of C.," Business Week, 8 Aug. 1942, 19-20; "Johnston Upheld," Business Week, 20 Mar. 1943, 14; Collins, The Business Response to Keynes, 88-96; Kerr, "Employer Policies," 63-67.
39. "A 'New' C. of C.," Business Week, 8 Aug. 1942, 19-20; "Johnston Upheld," Business Week, 20 Mar. 1943, 14; Collins, The Business Response to Keynes, 88-96; Kerr, "Employer Policies," 63-67.
40. "A 'New' C. of C.," Business Week, 8 Aug. 1942, 19-20; "Johnston Upheld," Business Week, 20 Mar. 1943, 14; Collins, The Business Response to Keynes, 88-96; Kerr, "Employer Policies," 63-67.
41. "A 'New' C. of C.," Business Week, 8 Aug. 1942, 19-20; "Johnston Upheld," Business Week, 20 Mar. 1943, 14; Collins, The Business Response to Keynes, 88-96; Kerr, "Employer Policies," 63-67.
42. "Eric Johnston," Current Biography, 1945; Jack Alexander, "Young Man in a Snakeskin Belt," Saturday Evening Post, 28 Aug. 1945, 10-11. See Eric A. Johnston, America Unlimited (Garden City, N.Y., 1944), for an overview of his industrial relations ideas.
43. "Eric Johnston," Current Biography, 1945; Jack Alexander, "Young Man in a Snakeskin Belt," Saturday Evening Post, 28 Aug. 1945, 10-11. See Eric A. Johnston, America Unlimited (Garden City, N.Y., 1944), for an overview of his industrial relations ideas.
44. "Eric Johnston," Current Biography, 1945; Jack Alexander, "Young Man in a Snakeskin Belt," Saturday Evening Post, 28 Aug. 1945, 10-11. See Eric A. Johnston, America Unlimited (Garden City, N.Y., 1944), for an overview of his industrial relations ideas.
45. To Weisenburger, "NAM Action on Management-Labor Charter: Proposed Staff Recommendation," 5 Apr. 1945, box 20, file: Labor-Management Charter, NAM Papers.
46. Sybyl S. Patterson, "Highlights of March 21st Meeting of Special Board Committee on Labor Relations," box 20, file: Labor-Management Charter, NAM Papers; "Report of Special NAM Board Committee on Labor-Management Relations," 16 and 25 Apr. 1945, box 3, file: Special Drafting Committee, NAM Papers.
47. Sybyl S. Patterson, "Highlights of March 21st Meeting of Special Board Committee on Labor Relations," box 20, file: Labor-Management Charter, NAM Papers; "Report of Special NAM Board Committee on Labor-Management Relations," 16 and 25 Apr. 1945, box 3, file: Special Drafting Committee, NAM Papers.
48. C. E. Harrison, Jr. to Cloud Wampler, 31 May 1945 and C. E. Harrison, Jr. to Charles E. Coe, 13 June 1945 and "Form Letter to Entire Membership on NAM Action with Respect to Labor-Management Charter," n.d., Section 3, box 844, file: Labor Cooperation, NIIC Papers.
49. "Minutes of NAM Committee on Labor-Management Relations," 13 June 1945, box 3, file: Committee on Labor-Management Relations, 1942-1945, NAM Papers; New York Times, 13 June 1945.
50. "Significant Features of the Labor-Management Conference," box 19, file: National Labor-Management Conference, 1945-1946, NAM Papers.
51. McQuaid and Harris see the BAC as the leader in forming this program but it appears that NAM was calling the tune. Moreover, the BAC did not launch a full scale campaign to influence the conference, indeed, it did not have the capacity to do so. McQuaid, Big Business and Presidential Power, 138-142; Harris, Right to Manage, 113-114. See also Collins, The Business Response to Keynes, 77-114.
52. McQuaid and Harris see the BAC as the leader in forming this program but it appears that NAM was calling the tune. Moreover, the BAC did not launch a full scale campaign to influence the conference, indeed, it did not have the capacity to do so. McQuaid, Big Business and Presidential Power, 138-142; Harris, Right to Manage, 113-114. See also Collins, The Business Response to Keynes, 77-114.
53. McQuaid and Harris see the BAC as the leader in forming this program but it appears that NAM was calling the tune. Moreover, the BAC did not launch a full scale campaign to influence the conference, indeed, it did not have the capacity to do so. McQuaid, Big Business and Presidential Power, 138-142; Harris, Right to Manage, 113-114. See also Collins, The Business Response to Keynes, 77-114.
54. Collins, Business Response to Keynes, 117-118, 120-122; "Middle-Roaders," Business Week, 4 May 1946, 16-17. Johnston's subsequent actions at the conference lead one to assume that the attempt to use his popularity to gain support for a moderate labor relations program was his strategy all along.
55. Collins, Business Response to Keynes, 117-118, 120-122; "Middle-Roaders," Business Week, 4 May 1946, 16-17. Johnston's subsequent actions at the conference lead one to assume that the attempt to use his popularity to gain support for a moderate labor relations program was his strategy all along.
56. W. B. Weisenburger to Mr. Harrison, 1 Oct. 1945, "Meeting of Staff Committee on Labor-Management Conference," 3 Oct. 1945, "Minutes of Staff Committee Meeting on Labor-Management Conference," 17 Oct. 1945, Sybyl S. Patterson to Cliff Harrison, 10 Oct. 1945, and "The Public Relations Strategy of the Labor-Management Conference," n.d., all in box 20, file: Preconference, NAM Papers.
57. Leo Teplow to Ira Mosher, 16 Oct. 1945, box 20, file: Labor-Management Conference Correspondence, NAM Papers; Meeting of Staff Committee on Labor-Management Conference, 3 Oct. 1945; Holcombe Parkes to Fred Smith, 5 Nov. 1945, box 20, file: Preconference, NAM Papers.
58. "The Public Relations Strategy of the Labor-Management Conference," n.d., box 20, file: Preconference, NAM Papers; "Significant Features of the Labor-Management