General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The Rising Tide of Populism in the Dem Party Spells Trouble for Hillary [View all]happyslug
(14,779 posts)Congress was controlled by progressive Democrats (The Bryan wing of the Democratic party), when the Republicans win in 1938 that came to an end. The Democratic party became dependent on Southern Conservatives to stay in the majority, thus no progressive movement from Congress till the 1960s. It was Congress that pushed reform NOT FDR from 1930 to 1938. Now FDR did oppose the reform but instead of opposing those reforms FDR just tried to contain those reforms. The reason for this was simple, when FDR did oppose reform, Congress over ruled him.
That check on FDR was gone after 1938. Lyndon Johnson was to the left FDR, thus medicare and Civil Rights (at the cost of the space race and Vietnam, Johnson had to deal with a more right wing Congress then FDR had to deal with 1933 to 1938. Some reforms were passed in the 1960s, but marginal compared to the New Deal.