National Economic Council, Inc. was an American

conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

political organization, headed for much of its history by Merwin K. Hart. The organization was established in 1931 as the New York State Economic Council, with the aims of reducing U.S. government expenditures and taxes. In 1943, it changed its name to the National Economic Council. Positions of the New York State Economic Council and the National Economic Council, Inc., included opposition to U.S. President

Franklin Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), also known as FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. He is the longest-serving U.S. president, and the only one to have served ...

and support for

Francisco Franco Francisco Franco Bahamonde (born Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco Bahamonde; 4 December 1892 – 20 November 1975) was a Spanish general and dictator who led the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalist forces i ...

fascist Fascism ( ) is a far-right, authoritarian, and ultranationalist political ideology and movement. It is characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural soci ...

leadership in

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

. Several newsletters of the National Economic Council expressed

antisemitic Antisemitism or Jew-hatred is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who harbours it is called an antisemite. Whether antisemitism is considered a form of racism depends on the school of thought. Antisemi ...

views, stating that American

Jews Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

were "alien-minded" and were undermining American government through "deceit", "trickery", and "intimidation". In 1947, the organization sent letters to many trustees of American universities and colleges that attacked

Keynesian economics Keynesian economics ( ; sometimes Keynesianism, named after British economist John Maynard Keynes) are the various macroeconomics, macroeconomic theories and Economic model, models of how aggregate demand (total spending in the economy) strongl ...

as a form of

Marxism Marxism is a political philosophy and method of socioeconomic analysis. It uses a dialectical and materialist interpretation of historical development, better known as historical materialism, to analyse class relations, social conflict, ...

and denounced the textbook ''Elements of Economics'', by Lorie Tarshis, for endorsing Keynesianism. The organization also opposed the civil rights movement and linked it to communism. Notable writers affiliated with the National Economic Council included Rose Wilder Lane, daughter of

Laura Ingalls Wilder Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder (February 7, 1867 – February 10, 1957) was an American writer, teacher, and journalist. She is best known as the author of the children's book series ''Little House on the Prairie'', published between 1932 and 1 ...

. One of the seminal influencers of the mid-20th Century

Libertarian Libertarianism (from ; or from ) is a political philosophy that holds freedom, personal sovereignty, and liberty as primary values. Many libertarians believe that the concept of freedom is in accord with the Non-Aggression Principle, according ...

political movement, Lane served as an editor and book reviewer from 1945-1952. The organization was included on President Richard Nixon's "enemies list".

Notes

References

*James T. Harris (1951). The political philosophy of the National Economic Council, Inc. Amherst College *Yale Divinity Librar
Guide to the Social Ethics Pamphlet Collection
National Economic Council, Inc. New York, NY. 1943, 1960-1961 Economic policy. International organization. Labor movement. Box 26 Folder 2. Newsletters and pamphlet reflecting conservative outlook of the Council on various issues. Antisemitism in New York (state) Far-right organizations in the United States National Economic Council, Inc. Conservative organizations in the United States {{US-org-stub 1931 establishments in New York (state) White supremacist groups in the United States

See also

Notes

References