Henry A. Wallace

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Henry A. Wallace – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Learn about Henry A. Wallace (1888–1965), the 33rd Vice President of the States, agricultural visionary, and progressive politician. Discover his early life, political trajectory, key philosophies, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Henry Agard Wallace (October 7, 1888 – November 18, 1965) was an American polymath: farmer, journalist, inventor, and statesman. He served as FDR’s Secretary of Agriculture, Vice President (1941–1945), and later as Secretary of Commerce. Wallace was a leading voice of liberal and progressive thought in mid-20th century America, especially in advocating for farm policy, social equity, and a “century of the common man.” His 1948 run for President under the Progressive Party and his outspoken views on foreign policy made him a controversial but influential figure whose ideas resonate—positively and critically—even today.

Early Life and Family

Henry A. Wallace was born on October 7, 1888, near Orient, Iowa, into a family deeply rooted in agriculture and farming journalism. Wallaces’ Farmer.

As a youth, Wallace’s family moved to Ames, Iowa, and later to Des Moines, Iowa.

Wallace graduated from Iowa State University in 1910 with a degree in agriculture (animal husbandry).

Youth, Education, and Early Career

After college, Wallace joined the family enterprise Wallaces’ Farmer, where he became a writer, editor, and advocate for >

Meanwhile he began experiments in plant breeding, especially focusing on hybrid corn. In 1926, he co-founded the Hi-Bred Corn Company (later Pioneer Hi-Bred) to commercialize hybrid seed corn.

These agricultural and scientific credentials, combined with his writing and journalistic work, gave Wallace a unique profile: someone who could speak to both farm communities and intellectuals.

Political Career and Major Offices

Secretary of Agriculture (1933–1940)

When Franklin D. Roosevelt entered office in 1933, Wallace was appointed Secretary of Agriculture.

Wallace’s policies often faced pushback from conservatives and agrarian lobbies, but he was instrumental in reshaping the federal government’s relationship with farming communities.

Vice Presidency (1941–1945)

Wallace became the 33rd Vice President of the United States, serving under President Roosevelt from 1941 to 1945.

Wallace embraced the idea of promoting democracy and the welfare of ordinary people, coining themes such as “the Century of the Common Man” to frame World War II as a struggle not just of armies, but of values.

However, political tensions grew within the Democratic Party by 1944. Many party leaders considered Wallace too left-leaning or too unconventional, and they maneuvered to replace him on the ticket. Ultimately, Harry S. Truman was nominated instead for the vice presidency.

Secretary of Commerce (1945–1946)

After Roosevelt’s death and Truman’s succession, Wallace became Secretary of Commerce (March 1945 – September 1946).

However, his public statements advocating conciliation toward the Soviet Union in the early Cold War era drew fierce criticism. In 1946, after delivering a speech that many in Truman’s administration saw as undermining U.S. foreign policy, he was asked to resign.

1948 Presidential Campaign & Later Activities

Following his departure from government, Wallace broke with the Democratic Party and ran for President in 1948 under the Progressive Party banner.

In subsequent years, Wallace moderated some of his foreign policy stances, particularly after the Korean War.

Meanwhile, he returned attention to agricultural and scientific pursuits. Pioneer Hi-Bred continued to flourish; he also supported philanthropic and research initiatives aligned with his ideals, such as founding the Wallace Genetic Foundation and contributing to the Wallace Global Fund legacy.

He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 1964 and died on November 18, 1965, in Danbury, Connecticut.

Historical Milestones & Context

• Wallace’s career spanned major eras: the Great Depression, World War II, and the onset of the Cold War.

• His role as agricultural reformer under Roosevelt placed him at the heart of New Deal transformations.

• As Vice President, he was unusually active in economic and strategic planning at a time when the office was often peripheral.

• His outspoken progressive stances and embrace of global cooperation put him at odds with more conservative and centrist elements during the early Cold War.

• His 1948 Progressive Party campaign is viewed as one of the most significant third-party bids in U.S. history, albeit with limited electoral success.

• In the decades after his death, Wallace’s contributions to agricultural science and public policy have often been reassessed—some praising his vision, others critiquing his naiveté in foreign affairs.

Legacy and Influence

• Agricultural innovation: Wallace helped pioneer modern hybrid seeds and agricultural methods; his company became a major force in global agriculture.

• Progressive thought leader: His ideas about equity, social welfare, civil rights, and international cooperation influenced later liberal and progressive movements.

• “Century of the Common Man” doctrine: His framing of mid-20th century politics around the needs of ordinary people provided a moral and rhetorical basis for New Deal and postwar liberalism.

• Contested reputation: While admired by left thinkers, he was criticized by Cold War hawks for being too conciliatory to the USSR. That debate continues in historical scholarship.

• Philanthropic and institutional impact: The Wallace Global Fund and other foundations continue his legacy in supporting sustainable agriculture, environmental causes, democratic governance, and social justice.

• Commemoration in science & public policy: The Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center is named in his honor.

Personality and Talents

Wallace was intellectually curious, idealistic, and deeply committed to bridging science with public policy. His background in farm science gave him temperament and credibility in engaging both rural and urban constituencies.

He was often seen as ahead of his time—willing to champion civil rights, racial integration, and progressive social agendas before they were politically safe.

At times, his moral earnestness and idealism made him vulnerable to political criticism. Some critics called him naive about global power politics.

Yet many admired his consistency: he insisted on principle over expediency, even when it damaged his career.

Famous Quotes of Henry A. Wallace

Here are some of his most resonant and frequently cited lines, reflecting his convictions:

• “What we must understand is that the industries, processes, and inventions created by modern science can be used either to subjugate or liberate. The choice is up to us.”

• “The really dangerous American fascist … is the man who wants to do in the United States in an American way what Hitler did in Germany in a Prussian way. … His method is to poison the channels of public information.”

• “Monopolists who fear competition … would like to secure their position against small and energetic enterprise.”

• “It may be shocking to some people in this country to realize that, without meaning to do so, they hold views in common with Hitler when they preach discrimination against other religious, racial or economic groups.”

• “Scientific understanding is our joy. Economic and political understanding is our duty.”

• “In some ways, certain books are more powerful by far than any battle.”

• “People in cities may forget the soil … but Mother Nature’s memory is long and she will not let them forget indefinitely.”

These quotes illustrate Wallace’s dual concern for science and social justice, as well as his warnings against abuses of power and domination.

Lessons from Henry A. Wallace

1. Science + Humanity
   Wallace modeled that scientific progress should be tethered to social and moral purpose. Technology and innovation, left unguided, can empower or enslave.

2. Advocacy despite opposition
   Even when marginalized, Wallace persisted in promoting equity, civil rights, and international cooperation. His trajectory reminds us that courage can tarnish popularity but not meaning.

3. Bridging rural and urban
   He showed that someone rooted in agriculture could speak with authority in national politics—reminding us that diverse voices enrich leadership.

4. Principle over popularity
   He frequently chose integrity over expedient alliances, even when it cost him political standing.

5. Long-term thinking
   His vision of a “century of the common man” suggests that change takes decades; reformers must think beyond immediate cycles.

6. Complexity of legacy
   His life warns that greatness and flaws often coexist. His bold moral stances sometimes intersected with misjudgments in geopolitics. Our task is to critically assess both.

Conclusion

Henry A. Wallace was a figure of contradictions and depth: a farmer who shaped national policy, a scientist who joined politics, a progressive intellectual whose idealism sometimes clashed with realpolitik. His commitment to the welfare of ordinary people, his fusion of agricultural innovation and democratic values, and his willingness to challenge entrenched powers make him a compelling study.

Though some of his positions—especially in foreign affairs—were controversial and debated, Wallace’s life invites us to ask enduring questions: how should progress be steered, whose interests should guide power, and how can science and democracy collaborate for the common good?

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