National Recovery Administration

National Recovery Administration
National Recovery Administration · Public domain · source
Agency name	National Recovery Administration
Formed	1933
Dissolved	1936
Jurisdiction	United States
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Parent agency	New Deal
Key people	Franklin D. Roosevelt, Hugh S. Johnson

National Recovery Administration. The National Recovery Administration was a key component of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, established in 1933 to help the United States recover from the Great Depression. It was led by Hugh S. Johnson, a former United States Army officer and businessman, who worked closely with Frances Perkins, the United States Secretary of Labor, and Henry A. Wallace, the United States Secretary of Agriculture. The administration's efforts were also influenced by the work of John Maynard Keynes, a renowned Cambridge University economist, and Marriner Eccles, a member of the Federal Reserve.

● Introduction

The National Recovery Administration was created to address the widespread unemployment and economic hardship faced by millions of Americans during the Great Depression. Its primary goal was to stimulate economic recovery by establishing codes of fair competition, setting minimum wages and working conditions, and providing jobs for young men through the Civilian Conservation Corps. The administration worked closely with business leaders, such as Henry Ford and John D. Rockefeller, to develop and implement these codes, which were designed to promote fair competition and protect workers' rights. The administration's efforts were also supported by labor unions, including the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations, which played a crucial role in shaping the administration's policies and programs.

● History

The National Recovery Administration was established on June 16, 1933, when Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the National Industrial Recovery Act into law. The act was a key component of the New Deal, a series of programs and policies designed to help the United States recover from the Great Depression. The administration's early efforts were focused on developing and implementing codes of fair competition, which were designed to promote fair competition and protect workers' rights. The administration worked closely with business leaders, such as J.P. Morgan and Andrew Mellon, to develop these codes, which were influenced by the work of Thorstein Veblen, a renowned University of Chicago economist. The administration's efforts were also shaped by the Supreme Court of the United States, which played a crucial role in determining the constitutionality of the administration's policies and programs.

● Organization and Administration

The National Recovery Administration was led by Hugh S. Johnson, who served as the administration's director from 1933 to 1934. Johnson was a former United States Army officer and businessman, who had previously worked as a executive at the Moline Plow Company. The administration was organized into several divisions, including the Division of Review, the Division of Labor Standards, and the Division of Industrial Relations. These divisions were responsible for developing and implementing the administration's policies and programs, which were designed to promote fair competition and protect workers' rights. The administration also worked closely with other New Deal agencies, including the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and the Civil Works Administration, to provide jobs and relief to millions of Americans.

● Policies and Programs

The National Recovery Administration developed and implemented a range of policies and programs designed to promote economic recovery and protect workers' rights. These included the National Industrial Recovery Act, which established codes of fair competition and set minimum wages and working conditions. The administration also established the Civilian Conservation Corps, which provided jobs for young men in conservation and infrastructure projects. The administration's policies and programs were influenced by the work of John Commons, a renowned University of Wisconsin–Madison economist, and Sidney Hillman, a labor leader and founder of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. The administration's efforts were also shaped by the National Labor Relations Act, which protected the right of workers to form and join labor unions.

● Impact and Legacy

The National Recovery Administration had a significant impact on the United States economy and society. The administration's policies and programs helped to stimulate economic recovery, reduce unemployment, and improve working conditions for millions of Americans. The administration's efforts also helped to establish the United States Department of Labor as a major force in shaping the nation's labor policies. The administration's legacy can be seen in the work of Lyndon B. Johnson, who established the Great Society programs, and Richard Nixon, who established the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The administration's efforts were also influenced by the work of Martin Luther King Jr., a civil rights leader, and Cesar Chavez, a labor leader and founder of the United Farm Workers.

● Criticisms and Controversies

The National Recovery Administration faced significant criticisms and controversies during its existence. Some business leaders, such as Henry Ford and John D. Rockefeller, opposed the administration's policies and programs, which they saw as too restrictive and burdensome. The administration was also criticized by labor unions, such as the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations, which felt that the administration's policies and programs did not go far enough to protect workers' rights. The administration's efforts were also shaped by the Supreme Court of the United States, which ruled that the National Industrial Recovery Act was unconstitutional in the case of Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States. The administration's legacy continues to be debated by historians and scholars, including Arthur Schlesinger Jr., Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Nancy Pelosi. Category:New Deal agencies