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Read a Book, Write a Bill: Kefauver and Judicial Corruption
Estes Kefauver frequently wrote articles and books urging people to support bills he created. But on at least one occasion, Kefauver was inspired to propose a bill based on a book he read.
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Campaign 1956: John Hoving’s Convention Memories
In 1988, C-SPAN interviewed veterans of past Democratic conventions. Thanks to them, we were able to hear ex-Kefauver staffer John Hoving’s behind-the-scenes stories of the 1956 convention… and the Kefauver vs. Kennedy battle for the vide presidency.
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Never Get Involved in a Land War in Asia: Kefauver and the Formosa Crisis
Estes Kefauver died before America got heavily involved in the Vietnam War. But we can envision how he would have reacted based on his reaction to another Asian conflict: the Formosa crisis of 1955.
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Nothing Succeeds Like Succession: Kefauver and the 25th Amendment
For 180 years after the Constitution, we had no idea what happened when the President was too sick to do the job. Kefauver tried to fix the problem… but it took a tragedy to get his colleagues to listen.
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Turbulence Ahead: Humphrey’s Airline Harangue
In 1960, Hubert Humphrey held a hearing of Kefauver’s Department of Consumers proposal. He used the hearing to…. complain about cramped airline seats and and the lack of radar of planes.
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Attention, Shoppers: Kefauver’s Department of Consumers
In 1960, Kefauver introduced a bill to create a federal Department of Consumers. The bill never passed, but the idea of protecting consumers – and giving them a voice – would outlive his proposal.
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Just the Facts: A Brochure from Kefauver’s Last Campaign
During Kefauver’s final re-election campaign in 1960, he bet that voters would opt for reason and honest facts instead of race-baiting and segregation. See how he made the case in an important campaign brochure.
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Anybody But Estes: Truman’s Biggest Mistake?
Harry Truman was looking for a successor… as long as it was anyone but Estes Kefauver. Did Truman let a personal grudge cost the Democrats their best shot at beating Ike and extending Truman’s legacy?
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Kefauver At the Movies: “Hoodlum Empire”
In 1952, a reporter who covered Kefauver’s organized crime hearings penned a movie script. People who watched the hearings might have found it a bit… familiar.
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Electoral College Dropout, Part 3: Song of the South
In 1950, Kefauver suggested that reforming the Electoral College might fix the political problems facing the South. Why did he think so? And did his predictions for the future come to pass?
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Estes Kefauver for President 