Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) traces its founding
to January 3, 1947, when a group of prominent liberals,
including ER, gathered to form a broadly based and inclusive
liberal political organization. Although the ADA sought
to nominate a candidate other than Truman at the Democratic
National Convention in 1948, it managed to retain good relations
with the president upon his reelection.
In contrast to the Progressive Citizens of America, whose
members favored cooperation and accommodation with the
Soviet Union,
the ADA was avowedly ant-icommunist, providing a forum
in which liberals could work for progressive policies without
being redbaited. Notwithstanding its anti-communist credentials,
however, Senator McCarthy targeted the ADA and implied
that
its liberal positions indicated a sympathy toward communist
ideals. As McCarthy increased his attack in 1953, ER agreed
to serve as ADA's honorary chair and, thereby force him
to call her a communist as well. Many ADA leaders believed
her courage "saved" the organization.
(1)
A bulwark of anti-racism and strongly in favor of expanded
civil rights, the ADA took early liberal stands on a broad
range of social, political, economic, and military issues,
including American involvement in Vietnam, the environment,
and abortion. Perhaps it is best known today for the annual
ratings that it issues for members of Congress based on
their positive voting records with respect to liberal causes.
Notes:
- Allida Black, Casting Her Own
Shadow: Eleanor Roosevelt and the Shaping of Postwar
Liberalism (New York: Columbia University Press,
1996), 169.
Sources:
Black, Allida. Casting Her Own Shadow: Eleanor Roosevelt
and the Shaping of Postwar Liberalism. New York: Columbia
University Press, 1996, 166-169.
Buhle, Mari Jo, Paul Buhle, and Dan Georgakas, eds. Encyclopedia
of the American Left. New York: Garland Publishing,
Inc., 1997, 597.
Kirkendall, Richard S., ed. The Harry S. Truman Encyclopedia.
Boston: G.K. Hall & Co., 1989, 6-7.
For more information on the ADA, visit the
following web site: