In
1952, as American servicemen battled Communist forces in Korea, a steel
strike seemed imminent. President Truman outlined the issues that separated
the two sides--labor and management--and presented his plan to keep
the steel mill in operation.
1. As you listen
to President Truman's speech, list 3 effects a steel strike would have
on the country.
a.
b.
c.
2. What two steps
did President Truman take to keep the steel mills open?
a.
b.
3. What were the
issues of disagreement for steel workers and steel company owners?
4. When did the
workers threaten to begin a strike?
5. After an investigation,
what settlement did the Wage Stabilization Board (WSB) recommend?
6. How did Truman
justify supporting WSB recommendations?
7. What was Truman's
response to management's insistence that a price increase was necessary?
8. How would a price
increase impact the economy?
9. Compare the company
profits with the proposed wage increase.
10.What happened
at midnight on April 8?
11.What reasons
did the President site for not invoking the Taft-Hartley Act?
12. What did Truman
ask both sides to do?
Discussion Questions
1. Why was this
an important speech for President Truman to give?
2. Based on his
speech, what values, beliefs, or personal traits could be identified
with President Truman?
3. Truman stated
that the crisis required "everyone to sacrifice some of their own
interests" for the good of the entire country. Give examples of
other times in history when a Chief Executive has made this same request
of the American people.
4. What, in your
opinion, was the most compelling reason for Truman's decision to order
a take- over of the steel mills?
5. What was the
final result of the steel crisis?
