For all the intemperate rhetoric about how dangerous Wallace was to the American way of life, it is striking how very common a specific type of American middle class man he actually was: An avid, if ungraceful tennis player; a middle aged man who marveled at the health benefits of such mundane choices as forswearing the elevator for stairs. It is easy to imagine a David Brooks “bobo” profile of Wallace in the late 1990s, albeit with a quaint pastoral twist. Wallace’s biggest political sin may have been being born too early. Perhaps the changing times have afforded Wallace a certain degree of recognition that previously escaped him: Though he never got his own presidential library, in 2003 the Franklin Roosevelt Presidential Library opened the newly constructed Henry A. Wallace Visitor, Education, and Conference Center.
Table of Contents
- Chapter 1: The Presidential Libraries
- Chapter 2: Henry Wallace's Life and Career
- Chapter 3: The Wallace Family Legacy
- Chapter 4: The Rise of Farm and Dairy
- Chapter 5: Henry Wallace's Early Life and Interests
Objectives and Key Themes
This text aims to provide a biographical overview of Henry Wallace, focusing on his life, career, and family legacy. It explores the intersection of his personal life with major historical events and his impact on American agriculture and politics.
- The development of presidential libraries and their significance
- Henry Wallace's unique background and upbringing within his family's agricultural context
- The role of family legacy in shaping Henry Wallace's life and career
- The rise and success of the Wallace family's agricultural publication, Farm and Dairy
- Henry Wallace's early interests in agriculture and his personal development
Chapter Summaries
Chapter 1: The Presidential Libraries: This chapter introduces the concept of presidential libraries, highlighting the initiatives of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman in establishing public repositories for their presidential documents. It contrasts the grand establishment of FDR's library with the less opulent plans for Wallace's, ultimately setting the stage for the narrative of Wallace's life and his comparatively lesser-known legacy compared to his predecessors and successors. The chapter subtly foreshadows the theme of legacy and how it's constructed and remembered.
Chapter 2: Henry Wallace's Life and Career: This chapter begins by establishing Wallace's relatively obscure status despite his significant roles as Secretary of Agriculture and Vice President. It contrasts his career path and personality with those of Herbert Hoover and Harry Truman, positioning Wallace as a mediator between these two figures. The chapter emphasizes Wallace's deep-seated concern for the common person and his lack of prior extensive experience in elected office, highlighting his unique position in American political history. It lays the groundwork for further exploration of his life and career.
Chapter 3: The Wallace Family Legacy: This chapter explores the significant influence of Henry Wallace's grandfather, "Uncle Henry," on the trajectory of Henry A. Wallace's life. It details "Uncle Henry's" career as a progressive agricultural leader and editor, showcasing his involvement in establishing agricultural cooperatives and fostering relationships with influential figures like James Wilson. The chapter establishes a strong link between generations, showing how the family's dedication to practical solutions within the agricultural community shaped Henry A. Wallace's own career path and worldview. The financial struggles faced by the Wallace family during the economic depression of 1893-94 are also highlighted, revealing the challenges they overcame.
Chapter 4: The Rise of Farm and Dairy: This chapter chronicles the Wallace family's acquisition and transformation of the struggling agricultural newspaper, *Farm and Dairy*. The chapter details how the family's reputation and aggressive marketing strategies led to the publication's rapid growth and eventual financial success. It describes the paper's content, including articles on scientific farming, prize-winning livestock, homemaking tips, and the popular "Uncle Henry's Sabbath School Lessons" column, which became a rural institution. The chapter reveals the family's entrepreneurial spirit and their knack for connecting with their rural audience.
Chapter 5: Henry Wallace's Early Life and Interests: This chapter focuses on Henry Wallace's childhood and adolescence, depicting him as a shy and reserved boy with an intense passion for agriculture. It contrasts his early experiences working on the farm with his academic pursuits, revealing his keen interest in plant genetics and his social awkwardness among his peers. The chapter highlights the lasting impact of George Washington Carver, Iowa State's first Black student, on young Henry Wallace, illustrating his early exposure to diverse perspectives and his developing commitment to agricultural innovation.
Keywords
Henry Wallace, presidential libraries, American agriculture, family legacy, political career, progressive ideals, Farm and Dairy, Iowa, plant genetics, Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman, "Uncle Henry."
Frequently Asked Questions: A Biography of Henry Wallace
What is this text about?
This text provides a comprehensive biography of Henry Wallace, focusing on his life, career, and family legacy. It explores the intersection of his personal life with major historical events and his impact on American agriculture and politics. The text includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What topics are covered in the book?
The book covers a wide range of topics related to Henry Wallace's life, including the development of presidential libraries, his unique background and upbringing in an agricultural family, the role of family legacy in shaping his career, the rise of the Wallace family's agricultural publication *Farm and Dairy*, and his early interests in agriculture and personal development. It also contrasts Wallace's career and personality with those of prominent figures like Herbert Hoover and Harry Truman.
What is the significance of presidential libraries in the context of this biography?
The book begins by introducing the concept of presidential libraries, contrasting the grand scale of FDR's library with the less opulent plans for Wallace's. This sets the stage for exploring Wallace's comparatively lesser-known legacy compared to his predecessors and successors, highlighting the theme of how legacies are constructed and remembered.
What is the role of the Wallace family in shaping Henry Wallace's life?
The family's legacy plays a significant role. The book details the influence of Henry Wallace's grandfather, "Uncle Henry," a progressive agricultural leader and editor, highlighting the family's dedication to practical solutions within the agricultural community and how this shaped Henry A. Wallace's career and worldview. The family's entrepreneurial spirit and success with *Farm and Dairy* are also explored.
What is the significance of *Farm and Dairy*?
Farm and Dairy was an agricultural newspaper acquired and transformed by the Wallace family. Its success is detailed, highlighting the family's marketing strategies and the paper's content, which included articles on scientific farming, prize-winning livestock, homemaking tips, and the popular "Uncle Henry's Sabbath School Lessons" column. This demonstrates the family's entrepreneurial spirit and connection with their rural audience.
What were Henry Wallace's early life and interests?
The book portrays Henry Wallace's childhood and adolescence, highlighting his passion for agriculture, his academic pursuits in plant genetics, and his social awkwardness. It also shows the impact of George Washington Carver on the young Wallace, illustrating his early exposure to diverse perspectives and his developing commitment to agricultural innovation.
How does the book compare Henry Wallace to other figures?
The biography contrasts Henry Wallace's career and personality with those of Herbert Hoover and Harry Truman, positioning Wallace as a mediator between these two figures. This comparison highlights Wallace's unique position in American political history, emphasizing his deep concern for the common person and his lack of extensive prior experience in elected office.
What are the key themes explored in the book?
Key themes include the development of presidential libraries, Henry Wallace's unique background and upbringing, the role of family legacy, the rise of Farm and Dairy, Henry Wallace's early interests and development, and his progressive ideals within the context of American agriculture and politics.
What are the key words associated with the book?
Keywords include Henry Wallace, presidential libraries, American agriculture, family legacy, political career, progressive ideals, Farm and Dairy, Iowa, plant genetics, Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman, and "Uncle Henry."
- Citation du texte
- Mark Schauer (Auteur), 2008, Vice President Henry A. Wallace, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/230276
