Right Turn: John T. Flynn and the Transformation of American Liberalism

287 Pages·2005·0.796 MB·English

by  John E. Moser

Right Turn

Right Turn
John T. Flynn
and the Transformation
of American Liberalism
John E. Moser
a
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS
New York and London
new york university press
New York and London
www.nyupress.org
© 2005 by New York University
All rights reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Moser, John E., 1966–
Right turn : John T. Flynn and the transformation
of American liberalism / John E. Moser.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0–8147–5700–6 (cloth : alk. paper)
1. Flynn, John T. (John Thomas), 1882–1964.
2. Political activists—United States—Biography.
3. Journalists—United States—Biography.
4. Liberalism—United States—History—20th century.
5. Conservatism—United States—History—20th century.
6. United States—Politics and government—1933–1953.
I. Title.
E748.F58M67 2005
320.52' 092—dc22 2004022344
New York University Press books are printed on acid-free paper,
and their binding materials are chosen for strength and durability.
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For Monica, my wife, my partner, my best friend.

Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
1 Irish Exaggerations 7
2 Business Must Be Governed 21
3 An Empty Collection of Syllables 35
4 Pay as We Fight 49
5 A Pretty Sorry Board 64
6 A Plague of Promisers 83
7 A Great and Grand Guy—Once 96
8 A Very Responsible Committee 112
9 The Nazi Transmission Belt 123
10 The Good Name of a Noble Cause 138
11 The Smear Offensive 151
12 A Bitter and Disheartening Struggle 166
13 God Bless Joe McCarthy 180
14 It Sickens My Soul 192
Conclusion 202
vii
viii | Contents
Notes 211
Bibliography 255
Index 267
About the Author 277
Acknowledgments
There are a number of individuals and organizations whose
assistance in the research, writing, and publication of this biography de-
serves to be recognized. A generous grant from the Earhart Foundation
of Ann Arbor, Michigan, made possible the numerous research trips that
the project required. Some critical early work took place during my time
as a fellow at the Social Philosophy and Policy Institute at Bowling Green
State University in the summer of 2000, and I was able to do much of the
actual writing with the help of a Summer Writing Grant from Ashland
University in 2003.
Theprojectwouldhavebeenanoneroustask,indeed,wereitnotfor
the able assistance of the staffs at the various libraries and manuscript
collections I visited. Particularly outstanding in this regard were Linda
Long and Duffy Knaus of Knight Library, University of Oregon; Syd-
ney Van Nort of the Special Collections of the City College of New
York; Bill Weiss and the entire staff of the Ashland University Library;
and finally Dale Mayer and the staff of the Herbert Hoover Presiden-
tial Library, which I have had the privilege of visiting on multiple oc-
casions.
Special recognition must go also to Justus Doenecke, whose guidance
and vote of confidence in the project were absolutely indispensable. Tony
Snyder served ably as my research assistant, thanks to a stipend provided
by the John M. Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs. Donald T. Critchlow
of Saint Louis University provided sage advice regarding publication,
while Leo Ribuffo of George Washington University and Greg Schneider
of Emporia State University offered many helpful comments in the prepa-
ration of the manuscript. I would also be remiss in not mentioning the
critical role played by my editor at New York University Press, Deborah
Gershenowitz. Finally, I wish to express my love and gratitude to my wife,
Monica, for her patience and support.
ix