Idiolexicon

Regular readers of Idiolexicon know my grandfather raised me as a cross between an Franklin Roosevelt Democrat and a Teddy Roosevelt Republican. Regular readers also know I have a weird obsession with Sasquatch, but we'll get to that later. I was reading some of Dwight Eisehowers letters to his brother (I seriously do this, which I guess explains why I don't have a social life) during his Presidency and came across this gem. At the time he wrote it, he was a Republican, and considered a moderate. I know Eisenhower was far from perfect, but if a politician put this out today, they'd be labeled a "liberal wing nut" or some such thing, a far cry from the middle of the road it actually represents:


November 8, 1954
From a letter to Edgar Newton Eisenhower

"Now it is true that I believe this country is following a dangerous trend when it permits too great a degree of centralization of governmental functions. I oppose this--in some instances the fight is a rather desperate one. But to attain any success it is quite clear that the Federal government cannot avoid or escape responsibilities which the mass of the people firmly believe should be undertaken by it. The political processes of our country are such that if a rule of reason is not applied in this effort, we will lose everything--even to a possible and drastic change in the Constitution. This is what I mean by my constant insistence upon "moderation" in government. Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are H. L. Hunt (you possibly know his background), a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."

-- Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States