Myth Of Liberal Ascendancy

The Myth of Liberal Ascendancy argues that the New Deal, which was enacted by Franklin D. Roosevelt, did not benefit the working class as much as was thought. Domhoff argues that the New Deal was largely influenced by corporate interests and that liberalism was on a steady decline, despite two decades of post-war growing equality. The successes of the civil rights, feminist, environmental, and gay-lesbian movements led to the final defeat of the liberal-labour alliance after 1968.

Based on new archival research, G. Williams Domhoff challenges popular conceptions of the 1930's New Deal. Arguing instead that this period was one of increasing corporate dominance in government affairs, affecting the fate of American workers up to the present day. While FDR's New Deal brought sweeping legislation, the tide turned quickly after 1938. From that year onward nearly every major new economic law passed by Congress showed the mark of corporate dominance. Domhoff accessibly portrays documents of the Committee's vital influence in the halls of government, supported by his interviews with several of its key employees and trustees. Domhoff concludes that in terms of economic influence, liberalism was on a long steady decline, despite two decades of post-war growing equality, and that ironically, it was the successes of the civil rights, feminist, environmental, and gay-lesbian movements-not a new corporate mobilisation-that led to the final defeat of the liberal-labour alliance after 1968. Review: Whether or not they agree with him, historians and political scientists will need to reckon with the reach of Domhoff's argument, the depth of his research, and the controlled passion underlying both. Library Journal -- Library Journal