Press Release, Speech of President Harry S. Truman, New Haven, Connecticut

IN EDIATE RELEASE INTEDIATE RELEASE NATIONAL REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT FROM PLATFORM AT NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, OCTOBER 28, 1948 RECORDS SERVICE" 1.50 P.M., E.S.T. Thank you, thank you. I can't tell you how very much I appreciate this wonderful reception in this great and historic city of New Haven. You know, New Haven, in my mind, has always had one great distinction and that's Yale University. And it's my regret, the regret of my lifetime, that I didn't ever have the privilege of attending any University. I regret it exceedingly. I would give anything in the world if I had a PhD from the University that gave the first PhD in this United States -- and that's Yale. Of course, you have to have something up here (indicating) in order toget that. This is the kind of reception that has been so inspiring on this crusade to put the Democratic Party, the people's party, in Washington for the mext four years. This kind of a reception means that John Maguire is going to be the next Democratic Congressman from New Haven. It means that Fred Trottaris going to be the next Congressman-at-large from Connecticut. And it means that Chester Bowles is going to be Governor of Connecticut. I know we are going to be elected because the people of Connecticut want to continue the prograss and prosperity we have been enjoying since the Democrats took office in 1933. Hero in Now Haven today I'd like to pay my respects to the memory of the Honorable Wilbur Cross, who died just about a month ago. Governor Cross was a great man who served the people of Connecticut well in his four terms as Governor. Now, you have another great man who will also be a go Governor. He has already served the people of the whole country through his fine work in Washington in my Administration during the war. I know he can do as good a job for you as he did for the Federal Government, and I want you to elect Chester Bowles to be your Governor next time -- and I hope you elect him for 3 more termsafter that, too. I have been traveling around the country a great deal, and I have seen, I suppose, about 5 or 6 million people in the last 6 weeks, or since Labor Day. I'm even more convinced now than III was before that the American people are capable of accomplishing anything they put their hearts to. When World War II broke out we had the job of providing most of the world with the tools to boat the Axis. Maybe you don't remember, but it was right hero in Connecticut where the phrase, "The Arsenal of Democracy" had its start. You people .in Connecticut certainly lived up to that phrase. And I can say that advisedly for I don't think anybody had a closer connection with the War Production end of World War II than I had as Chairman of the Committee to Invostigate the National Defense Program. I say thero is no reason why we can't lick the housing shortage in this country just as we beat the Axis. I believe if we want to build houses we can do it. The Democratic loaders in Washington worked out a plan -- now, listen to this -- the Democratic leaders worked out a plan which was called, in the beginning, the Wagner-Ellender-Taft Bill. But that Wagner-Ellender_ Taft Bill didn't get through at the time it was first introduceğ, so they changed the name of it.in.the 80th Congress. They called it the Taft-Ellender- Wagner Bill. That Bill, if it had been passed by the Republican Congress, would have made it possible for us to clear out the slums and build houses for sale or for rent, at prices that the people could afford. This housing plan was go good -- pay attention to this -- that Senator Taft was glad to have his name put on the Bill in the beginning. But do you know what he did? When he really had a chance to put that Bill through he changed his mind and sabotaged it in the Senate. Now, after the real estate lobby went to work on the Congress -- I'm sorry to say this -- Senator Taft backed down and wouldn't even vote for his own bill. The real estate lobbies swarmed all over Washington, and the Republicans in Congress were very obedient, as they usually are when lobbyists are around. And they kidled our chances for low-cost housing, killed them until we get a better Con COSS -- which I am suro wo're going to got after this election of November 2nd. (OVER)