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Rexford Guy Tugwell was born in Sinclairsville, New York, on 10th July, 1891. His parents, who owned a cannery, were both strong supporters of the progressive politician, William Jennings Bryan, who as the Democratic candidate, failed on three occasions to become president of the United States (1896, 1900 and 1908).

Tugwell studied at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Finance and Commerce where he was greatly influenced by two of his tutors, Scott Nearing and Simon Patten. An impressive student, after he graduated, he was recruited to the teaching staff of the Wharton School.

In 1917 Tugwell moved to the University of Washington. This was followed by periods at the American University in Paris and at Columbia University, where he eventually became professor of economics. He wrote extensively about his belief that government economic planning could reduce the wastefulness of capitalism.

In 1932 Franklin D. Roosevelt recruited Tugwell as an adviser during his presidential campaign. After being elected, Roosevelt appointed Tugwell as an assistant secretary to the Agriculture Department. In 1934 he was promoted to under under secretary where he worked closely with Henry Wallace. Roosevelt consulted Tugwell about many aspects of the New Deal and helped to plan the Agricultural Adjustment Act.

Although a strong supporter of economic planning, Tugwell was more conservative in his views about federal relief programs. As a believer in a balanced budget, Tugwell opposed the idea of an extensive welfare system.

In 1937 Tugwell resigned from the Roosevelt administration and became vice president of the American Molasses Company. However, the following year he returned to public service when he was appointed as chairman of the New York Planning Commission.

Tugwell became governor of Puerto Rico in 1942. This was a popular appointment and during the next four years improved the civil service, established auditing procedures and helped to diversify Puerto Rican agriculture and to reduce its dependence on sugar production.

In 1946 Tugwell returned to teaching and worked at the University of Chicago (1946-57) and the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions at Santa Barbara (1957-1964).

During his lifetime, Tugwell had twenty books published including The Stricken Land (1946), The Democratic Roosevelt (1957), The Light of Other Days (1962) and The Brains Trust (1968). Rexford Guy Tugwell died in Santa Barbara, California, on 21st July, 1979.

 

 

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(1) Rexford Tugwell was an assistant secretary in the Agricultural Department in 1933. He wrote about his experiences in The Democratic Roosevelt (1957)

During the late spring the Civilian Conservation Corps got underway with some awkwardness. What had begun as a simple notion that the experienced foresters would take under their care and direction a certain number of idle young men turned out in practice to be not so simple. There were problems of recruiting; who was to be chosen? There were problems of housing; who was to build the camps? It was finally decided that all those sent to camps should come from families on relief. It was also decided, when pacifying the unions had become something of an issue, that the boys would not build their own camps but that union labour would do it.

 

(2) Rexford Tugwell, The Democratic Roosevelt (1957)

Franklin had long known about the European experience with insurance against the hazards of industrial life, even with that against unemployment, although this was the most doubtful of the insurances he had in mind. Actuarial figures about old age, accidents, illnesses, and the like, were dependable. He had determined on a contributory scheme. Deductions from pay envelopes and enforced contributions from employers would carry all these costs. Unemployment was the real social risk because it was unpredictable.

 

(3) Rexford Tugwell, The Democratic Roosevelt (1957)

Senator Wagner had been chairman of the National Labor Board during the first half of NRA. During that service he had seen how little could be accomplished without powers to enforce the principles that were supposed to be those of all New Dealers. Such intractable employer corporations as Weirton Steel, Budd Manufacturing, and Ford Motor were either refusing compliance or were making use of company unions to evade collective bargaining.

In February 1934, Senator Wagner induced Franklin to issue two executive orders authorizing the Board to hold elections for determining bargaining agents and to prevent violations to the Department of Justice for prosecution. But Wagner was convinced that more was necessary and on 1st March he introduced a Labor Disputes Bill.

Senator Wagner's bill enumerated several "unfair practices" to be prohibited, such as the sponsoring by employers of company unions, interfering with employees' choice of bargaining representatives, and refusal to bargain with elected agents. Under the bill a new labor board would be set up, fully equipped with staff to investigate and powers to enforce the provisions of the act.

 

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