Calvin Benham Baldwin, also known as Calvin B Baldwin, C.B. Baldwin, and generally as "Beanie" Baldwin (August 19, 1902 – May 12, 1975), served as assistant to US Secretary of Agriculture Henry A. Wallace and administrator of the New Deal's Farm Security Administration in the 1930s, worked for the CIO in the 1940s, and then worked with the Progressive Party from 1948 to 1955.[1][2]
Calvin Benham Baldwin was born on August 19, 1902, in Radford, Virginia. He attended the Virginia Polytechnic Institute from 1920 to 1923.[1][2]
CareerEdit
Early years (1923–1933)Edit
For five years during the 1920s, he worked for the Norfolk and Western Railroad. In 1929, Baldwin became the manager and owner of the Electric Sales and Service Company in East Radford, Virginia.[1][2]
In 1937, the Resettlement Administration became the Farm Security Administration (FSA). In 1940, Baldwin became FSA administrator. The FSA distributed low interest loans to small farmers and encouraged cooperatives.[1][2]
In 1945, CIO-PAC founded the National Citizens Political Action Committee (NCPAC), a "liberal lobby" whose membership included communists. Baldwin became the NCPAC's executive vice-chairman and its "driving force." Critical of Truman, NCPAC and other liberal organizations united to form the Progressive Citizens of America (PCA).[1][2]
Following Baldwin's lead, the PCA fielded a third-party presidential candidate Henry A. Wallace under the Progressive Party banner.[1][2]
In January 1948, Wallace had Baldwin leave the PCA to become his campaign manager. (Baldwin credited their campaign as having moved Truman politically to the left.)[1][2][3] By August 1948, the Washington Post had dubbed Baldwin along with John Abt and Lee Pressman (the latter two members of the Soviet underground Ware Group involved in the Hiss-Chambers Case) as "influential insiders" and "stage managers" in the Wallace campaign.[4][5][6]
Baldwin remained the Progressive Party's national secretary until it closed in 1955.[1][2]
Personal and deathEdit
Baldwin lived his later years in Kent, Connecticut.[1][2] In 1970, son Calvin Benham Baldwin Jr., joined the National Cancer Institute, where he worked for 33 years.[7]
He died of cancer on May 12, 1975, in Bethesda, Maryland.[1][2]
Beanie Baldwin became head of Wallace's Progressive Citizens of America, and he was one of the reasons I joined Wallace's campaign. I had known Beanie during our years in Washington, and he and I shared many New Deal dreams. He was Calvin Benham Baldwin, but everyone called him Beanie. He had been one of Henry Wallace's assistants when Henry was secretary of agriculture in the 1930s. There seemed to be no other choice for me. There was no Republican party to speak of in Virginia. There may have been ten or twelve Republicans, but I never met any. And the Democratic party of Virginia was absolutely controlled by Harry Byrd. It was a machine that was impossible to break.[8]
W.E.B. Du Bois pledged his support to the 1948 Wallace campaign in a latter to Baldwin that reads:
New York City, July 15, 1948 Dear Mr. Baldwin, As I have written you before, I am unable to take any active part in partisan politics during this campaign. This is because of the vote of the Board of Directors of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, passed in 1944. This vote forbids salaried officers of the Association from taking part in political campaigns. Had I known of this action before rejoining the Association in 1944, I would have insisted on a clearer understanding. I agree with the aim of the Association to be non-partisan, but I am certain that this action does not accomplish this, and in fact intense partisan activity on the part of closely connected with the Association is putting us very distinctly in politics. Nevertheless, my duty is clear to me. I will obey the letter of the Board's vote, and for that reason, will not attend the Philadelphia meeting or act on any of its committees. On the other hand, I will retain my right to vote, of which no organization can legally deprive me, and whenever I consider it necessary I will publicly announce my choice of Henry Wallace for president and the reasons therefore. In any such announcement, I will be careful to say that this is my personal opinion and in no way expresses or seeks to express the policy of the NAACP or any of its members. Very sincerely yours, W.E.B. Du Bois[9]
Son Calvin Benham Baldwin Jr., recalled:
My father... was a New Dealer, and headed up Farm Security Administration during the New Deal. When he left government, he helped organize the CIO Political Action Committee. Then he helped organize the Progressive Party, and was Henry Wallace's campaign manager when he ran for President in 1948. So I grew up in a very political family. That was, I'd say, a disastrous campaign. Although the Progressives claim that they pushed Harry Truman to the left, and that's what led to that surprising victory in 1948, when he beat Dewey.[7]
LegacyEdit
In his obituary, the New York Times wrote:
Mr. Baldwin served from 1940 to 1943, as Administrator of the Farm Security Administration, regarded by many historians as one of the most successful, if controversial, New Deal agencies. He was accused of radicalism and of trying to "communize American agriculture." Against this opposition, Roosevelt warmly endorsed "the high standard of public service" that characterized Mr. Baldwin's career.[2]
The University of Iowa's biography states: "A supporter of the New Deal's most radical programs, C.B. Baldwin favored national health insurance, guaranteed jobs for the poor, and expanded federal housing."[1]
^ abcdefghijklm "Guide to the C.B. Baldwin Papers". University of Iowa. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
^ abcdefghijkl "C.B. Baldwin Dies; New Deal Official Shifted to Wallace". New York Times. 13 May 1975. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
^ Lawrence, W. H. (22 July 1948). "Broad Nationalization Plank Is Drafted by Wallace Party: Nationalizing Set as Wallace Plank". New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
^ Alsop, Joseph; Alsop, Stewart (25 July 1948). "Wallace Must Wonder Sometimes". Washington Post. p. B5.
^ Alsop, Joseph; Alsop, Stewart (28 July 1948). "Progressives Open Doors To Other Like-Minded Groups". Washington Post. p. B5.
^ Childs, Marquis (24 July 1948). "Calling Washington: Wallace's Stage Managers". Washington Post. p. 9.
^ ab "Interview with Calvin B. Baldwin, Jr" (PDF). National Cancer Institute Oral History Project. 31 December 1997. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
^ Durr, Virginia Foster (1990). Outside the Magic Circle: The Autobiography of Virginia Foster Durr. University of Alabama Press. p. 196. ISBN9780817305178. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
^ Du Bois, W.E.B. (1978). Herbert Aptheker (ed.). The Correspondence of W.E.B. Du Bois, Volume 3. University of Massachusetts Press. pp. 207–208. ISBN1558491058. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
External sourcesEdit
"Guide to the C.B. Baldwin Papers". University of Iowa. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
"C.B. Baldwin Dies; New Deal Official Shifted to Wallace". New York Times. 13 May 1975. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
Social Networks and Archival Context (SNAC): Baldwin, Calvin Benham, 1902–1975
October 21, 2023
calvin, benham, baldwin, also, known, calvin, baldwin, baldwin, generally, beanie, baldwin, august, 1902, 1975, served, assistant, secretary, agriculture, henry, wallace, administrator, deal, farm, security, administration, 1930s, worked, 1940s, then, worked, . Calvin Benham Baldwin also known as Calvin B Baldwin C B Baldwin and generally as Beanie Baldwin August 19 1902 May 12 1975 served as assistant to US Secretary of Agriculture Henry A Wallace and administrator of the New Deal s Farm Security Administration in the 1930s worked for the CIO in the 1940s and then worked with the Progressive Party from 1948 to 1955 1 2 Calvin Benham BaldwinUS Farm Security AdministrationBorn 1902 08 19 August 19 1902Radford Virginia USDiedMay 12 1975 1975 05 12 aged 72 Bethesda Maryland USNationalityAmericanOther namesBeanie BaldwinAlma materVirginia Polytechnic InstituteOccupation s Government official union and political activistYears active1923 1955EmployerNew Deal governmentKnown forAdministrator of New Deal s Farm Security Administration 1948 campaign manager for Progressive Party s Henry A Wallace accused of radicalism and of trying to communize American agriculture NYT 1 Spouse s Louise Delp first Lillian Hoell second Children2 Contents 1 Background 2 Career 2 1 Early years 1923 1933 2 2 Government service 1933 1943 2 3 CIO CIO PAC NCPAC 1943 1948 2 4 Progressive Party 1948 1955 3 Personal and death 4 Reminisces 5 Legacy 6 See also 7 References 8 External sourcesBackground EditCalvin Benham Baldwin was born on August 19 1902 in Radford Virginia He attended the Virginia Polytechnic Institute from 1920 to 1923 1 2 Career EditEarly years 1923 1933 Edit For five years during the 1920s he worked for the Norfolk and Western Railroad In 1929 Baldwin became the manager and owner of the Electric Sales and Service Company in East Radford Virginia 1 2 Government service 1933 1943 Edit With the advent of the New Deal Baldwin became assistant to Secretary of Agriculture Henry A Wallace He first worked with the Agricultural Adjustment Administration AAA and then as assistant to Rexford Tugwell for the Resettlement Administration as of its founding in 1935 In 1937 the Resettlement Administration became the Farm Security Administration FSA In 1940 Baldwin became FSA administrator The FSA distributed low interest loans to small farmers and encouraged cooperatives 1 2 CIO CIO PAC NCPAC 1943 1948 Edit In 1943 Baldwin left government to work with the Congress of Industrial Organizations s Political Action Committee CIO PAC headed by Sidney Hillman president of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America and a long time vice president of the CIO He tried to secure labor vote for US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt 1 2 In 1945 CIO PAC founded the National Citizens Political Action Committee NCPAC a liberal lobby whose membership included communists Baldwin became the NCPAC s executive vice chairman and its driving force Critical of Truman NCPAC and other liberal organizations united to form the Progressive Citizens of America PCA 1 2 Progressive Party 1948 1955 Edit nbsp Progressive Citizens of America members 1947 from left seated Henry A Wallace Elliott Roosevelt standing Dr Harlow Shapley Jo Davidson Following Baldwin s lead the PCA fielded a third party presidential candidate Henry A Wallace under the Progressive Party banner 1 2 In January 1948 Wallace had Baldwin leave the PCA to become his campaign manager Baldwin credited their campaign as having moved Truman politically to the left 1 2 3 By August 1948 the Washington Post had dubbed Baldwin along with John Abt and Lee Pressman the latter two members of the Soviet underground Ware Group involved in the Hiss Chambers Case as influential insiders and stage managers in the Wallace campaign 4 5 6 Baldwin remained the Progressive Party s national secretary until it closed in 1955 1 2 Personal and death EditBaldwin lived his later years in Kent Connecticut 1 2 In 1970 son Calvin Benham Baldwin Jr joined the National Cancer Institute where he worked for 33 years 7 He died of cancer on May 12 1975 in Bethesda Maryland 1 2 Reminisces EditIn her memoir Virginia Foster Durr recalled Beanie Baldwin became head of Wallace s Progressive Citizens of America and he was one of the reasons I joined Wallace s campaign I had known Beanie during our years in Washington and he and I shared many New Deal dreams He was Calvin Benham Baldwin but everyone called him Beanie He had been one of Henry Wallace s assistants when Henry was secretary of agriculture in the 1930s There seemed to be no other choice for me There was no Republican party to speak of in Virginia There may have been ten or twelve Republicans but I never met any And the Democratic party of Virginia was absolutely controlled by Harry Byrd It was a machine that was impossible to break 8 W E B Du Bois pledged his support to the 1948 Wallace campaign in a latter to Baldwin that reads New York City July 15 1948Dear Mr Baldwin As I have written you before I am unable to take any active part in partisan politics during this campaign This is because of the vote of the Board of Directors of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People passed in 1944 This vote forbids salaried officers of the Association from taking part in political campaigns Had I known of this action before rejoining the Association in 1944 I would have insisted on a clearer understanding I agree with the aim of the Association to be non partisan but I am certain that this action does not accomplish this and in fact intense partisan activity on the part of closely connected with the Association is putting us very distinctly in politics Nevertheless my duty is clear to me I will obey the letter of the Board s vote and for that reason will not attend the Philadelphia meeting or act on any of its committees On the other hand I will retain my right to vote of which no organization can legally deprive me and whenever I consider it necessary I will publicly announce my choice of Henry Wallace for president and the reasons therefore In any such announcement I will be careful to say that this is my personal opinion and in no way expresses or seeks to express the policy of the NAACP or any of its members Very sincerely yours W E B Du Bois 9 Son Calvin Benham Baldwin Jr recalled My father was a New Dealer and headed up Farm Security Administration during the New Deal When he left government he helped organize the CIO Political Action Committee Then he helped organize the Progressive Party and was Henry Wallace s campaign manager when he ran for President in 1948 So I grew up in a very political family That was I d say a disastrous campaign Although the Progressives claim that they pushed Harry Truman to the left and that s what led to that surprising victory in 1948 when he beat Dewey 7 Legacy EditIn his obituary the New York Times wrote Mr Baldwin served from 1940 to 1943 as Administrator of the Farm Security Administration regarded by many historians as one of the most successful if controversial New Deal agencies He was accused of radicalism and of trying to communize American agriculture Against this opposition Roosevelt warmly endorsed the high standard of public service that characterized Mr Baldwin s career 2 The University of Iowa s biography states A supporter of the New Deal s most radical programs C B Baldwin favored national health insurance guaranteed jobs for the poor and expanded federal housing 1 See also EditRexford Tugwell Henry A Wallace John Abt Lee Pressman Farm Security Administration Progressive Party New Deal Agricultural Adjustment Administration Resettlement Administration Congress of Industrial Organizations Progressive Citizens of America Ware GroupReferences Edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m Guide to the C B Baldwin Papers University of Iowa Retrieved 25 November 2016 a b c d e f g h i j k l C B Baldwin Dies New Deal Official Shifted to Wallace New York Times 13 May 1975 Retrieved 25 November 2016 Lawrence W H 22 July 1948 Broad Nationalization Plank Is Drafted by Wallace Party Nationalizing Set as Wallace Plank New York Times p 1 Retrieved 22 November 2016 Alsop Joseph Alsop Stewart 25 July 1948 Wallace Must Wonder Sometimes Washington Post p B5 Alsop Joseph Alsop Stewart 28 July 1948 Progressives Open Doors To Other Like Minded Groups Washington Post p B5 Childs Marquis 24 July 1948 Calling Washington Wallace s Stage Managers Washington Post p 9 a b Interview with Calvin B Baldwin Jr PDF National Cancer Institute Oral History Project 31 December 1997 Retrieved 25 November 2016 Durr Virginia Foster 1990 Outside the Magic Circle The Autobiography of Virginia Foster Durr University of Alabama Press p 196 ISBN 9780817305178 Retrieved 25 November 2016 Du Bois W E B 1978 Herbert Aptheker ed The Correspondence of W E B Du Bois Volume 3 University of Massachusetts Press pp 207 208 ISBN 1558491058 Retrieved 25 November 2016 External sources Edit Guide to the C B Baldwin Papers University of Iowa Retrieved 25 November 2016 C B Baldwin Dies New Deal Official Shifted to Wallace New York Times 13 May 1975 Retrieved 25 November 2016 Social Networks and Archival Context SNAC Baldwin Calvin Benham 1902 1975 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Calvin Benham Baldwin amp oldid 1157941792, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
