Fair Deal Plank #1: Farm Aid

“Our farmers still face an uncertain future. And too many of them lack the benefits of our modern civilization…Standards of living on the farm should be just as good as anywhere else in the country. Farm price supports are an essential part of our program…to prevent farm price declines…facilitate adjustments in production to consumer demands, and to promote good land use…Rural electrification should be pushed forward.” – Harry S. Truman, 1949 State of the Union Address

Fair Deal Plank #2: Civil Rights

“Our democratic ideals are often thwarted by prejudice and intolerance…The driving force behind our progress is our faith in our democratic institutions. That faith is embodied in the promise of equal rights and equal opportunities which the founders of our Republic proclaimed to their countrymen and to the whole world. The fulfillment of this promise is among the highest purposes of government. The civil rights proposals I made to the 80th Congress, I now repeat to the 81st Congress.” – President Truman, 1949 State of the Union Address

Fair Deal Plank #3: Minimum Wage

“Our minimum wages are far too low…The health of our economy and its maintenance at high levels further require that the minimum wage fixed by law should be raised to at least 75 cents an hour.” – President Truman, 1949 State of the Union Address

Fair Deal Plank #4: Tax Reform

“…It is essential not only that the Federal budget be balanced, but also that there be a substantial surplus to…permit a sizable reduction in the national debt...I recommend…Congress enact new tax legislation to bring in an additional $4 billion of Government revenue. This should come principally from additional corporate taxes. A portion should come from revised estate and gift taxes. Consideration should be given to raising personal income rates in the middle and upper brackets.” – President Truman, 1949 State of the Union Address

Fair Deal Plank #5: National Health Insurance

“We must spare no effort to raise the general level of health in this country. In a nation as rich as ours, it is a shocking fact that tens of millions lack adequate medical care. We are short of doctors, hospitals, nurses. We must remedy these shortages. Moreover, we need – and we must have without further delay – a system of prepaid medical insurance which will enable every American to afford good medical care.” – President Truman, 1949 State of the Union Address

Fair Deal Plank #6: Fair Housing

“Five million families are still living in slums and firetraps. Three million families share their homes with others…The housing shortage continues to be acute...Congress should enact the provisions for low-rent public housing, slum clearance, farm housing, and housing research…Building costs must be lowered…The Government is now engaged in a campaign to induce all segments of the building industry to concentrate on the production of lower priced housing.” – President Truman, 1949 State of the Union Address

Fair Deal Plank #7: Labor Relations

“At present, the working men and women of the Nation are unfairly discriminated against by a statute that abridges their rights, curtails their constructive efforts, and hampers our system of free collective bargaining. That statute is the Labor-Management Relations Act of 1947, sometimes called the Taft-Hartley Act. That act should be repealed…Without endangering our democratic freedoms, means should be provided for setting up machinery for preventing strikes in vital industries which affect the public interest.” – President Truman, 1949 State of the Union Address

“The present coverage of the social security laws is altogether inadequate; the benefit payments are too low. One-third of our workers are not covered. Those who receive old-age and survivors insurance benefits receive an average payment of only $25 a month (approximately $270 in today’s dollars). Many others who cannot work because they are physically disabled are left to the mercy of charity. We should expand our social security program...” – President Truman, 1949 State of the Union Address

Fair Deal Plank #9: Anti-Trust Laws

“If our free enterprise economy is to be strong and healthy, we must reinvigorate the forces of competition. We must assure small business the freedom and opportunity to grow and prosper. To this purpose, we should strengthen our antitrust laws by closing those loopholes that permit monopolistic mergers and consolidations.” – President Truman, 1949 State of the Union Address

Fair Deal Plank #10: Education

“…Millions of our children are not receiving a good education…in overcrowded, obsolete buildings. We are short of teachers, because teachers' salaries are too low to attract new teachers, or to hold the ones we have…I…[seek] …prompt Federal financial aid to the States to help them operate and maintain their school systems. The governmental agency which now administers…education… should be given full departmental status.” – President Truman, 1949 State of the Union Address