Not all debates during election years were filled with drama and suspense. Some of the lesser known (but no less important when voting came) were often in areas of state and local governments.
This debate, which took place in Detroit Michigan on June 20, 1956 was between two State Party Chairmen; John Feikens, Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party and Neil Staebler, Democratic Party State Chairman.
First impression was the amount of civility going on between the two – the issues were broad enough and there was no basis for any name calling. It was simply a debate between two representatives from their respective party’s arguing over why they were the better choice for the voter.
And it trudges along for an hour before the station News Director pulls the plug at one-hour.
John Feikens, State Republican chairman, told 150 members of UAW Local 157 and their wives that the Republican Party stands for progress, opportunity and full employment.
Neil Staebler charged that Republicans sought to deny unions political freedom; that union representatives were squeezed out of Republican committees, and that the nation’s prosperity under Republican rule has been largely the carryover from the Roosevelt Administration. THE MEETING in the local’s hall at Fourteenth and McGraw apparently ended the controversy about whether Republicans would be allowed to address CIO union meetings. It began with a one-minute silence dedicated to prayer for the recovery of President Eisenhower. Feikens declared that the Democratic Congress killed the first attempt to pass Mr. Eisenhower’s 100 billion dollar highway bill which by this time would be helping to overcome the present employment slump in Michigan.
He also charged that the Congress had killed the school construction bill which would have brought money and employment to the State. Feikens attacked the “bumbling, fumbling and dawdling” record of the Congress and Gov. Williams’ switch from vetoing to supporting the State highway construction bill. FEIKENS boasted that under Republican administration, unions have expanded; became stronger and more wealthy. “Wages have reached new peaks under our Administration” he declared.
He said a coming job prosperity for the Wayne-Macomb-Oakland County area would see 1,487,000 new jobs by 1960.
Feikens declared that under Republican administration, unions had expanded; became stronger and more wealthy. “Wages have reached new peaks under our Administration,” he beamed. He said a coming job prosperity for the Wayne-Macomb-Oakland County area would see 1,487,000 new jobs by 1960. He cited the 258 miles of expressway to be built by Detroit; 140 million dollars in Army contracts coming into the area, and the 25 million dollar Gratiot Redevelopment as the major sources of this employment. “These things do not just happen,” he pointed out.
“You want jobs, and the Republican program is one that creates jobs. Democrats seem only to want to make unemployment seem attractive.” Staebler Attacked the Michigan Republicans for attempting to pass the so-called political freedom bill for labor. “They simply wanted to kill the voice of labor, which they fear and accept only as a necessary evil,” he challenged. He cited the Taft-Hartley Law as a Republican attempt “to keep labor in its place.” “Republicans squeeze labor representatives out of every policy making committee level from the County right on up,” he declared.
To get a taste of Political debates during the 1956 Presidential season, here is a local debate as it was broadcast on June 20, 1956 by WJR-AM in Detroit.
May be a bit boring but at least there was no blood.
