1956 Platform of the Republican Party

With utmost confidence in the future and with justifiable pride in our achievements, the Republican Party warmly greets the dawn of our second century of service in the cause of unity and progress in the Nation.
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<p>1956 Platform of the Republican Party 
President Eisenhower has given the world bold proposals for mutual 
arms reduction. 
We support his offer of United States participation in an international 
fund for economic development financed from the savings brought by 
true disarmament. 
We shall continue vigorously to support the United Nations. 
President Eisenhower has given us a statement of principles that is 
neither partisan nor prejudiced, but warmly American: 
The individual is of supreme importance. 
The spirit of our people is the strength of our nation. 
America does not prosper unless all Americans prosper. 
Government must have a heart as well as a head. 
Under the Republican Administration, as our country has prospered, so 
have its people. This is as it should be, for as President Eisenhower said: 
"Labor is the United States. The men and women, who with their minds, 
their hearts and hands, create the wealth that is shared in this countryâ€”
they are America." 
Labor 
The Eisenhower Administration has brought to our people the highest 
employment, the highest wages and the highest standard of living ever 
enjoyed by any nation.  
 
The Federal minimum wage has been raised for more than 2 million 
workers. Social Security has been extended to an additional 10 million 
workers and the benefits raised for 6 1/2 million. The protection of 
unemployment insurance has been brought to 4 million additional 
workers. There have been increased workmen's compensation benefits 
for longshoremen and harbor workers, increased retirement benefits for 
railroad employees, and wage increases and improved welfare and 
pension plans for federal employees. 
In addition, the Eisenhower Administration has enforced more 
vigorously and effectively than ever before, the laws which protect the 
working standards of our people. 
All workers have gained and unions have grown in strength and 
responsibility, and have increased their membership by 2 million. 
Furthermore, the process of free collective bargaining has been 
strengthened by the insistence of this Administration that labor and 
management settle their differences at the bargaining table.  
Health, Education and Welfare 
The Republican Party believes that the physical, mental, and spiritual 
well-being of the people is as important as their economic health.  
Republican action created the Department of Health, Education and 
Welfare as the first new Federal department in 40 years, to raise the 
continuing consideration of these problems for the first time to the 
highest council of Government, the President's Cabinet. 
Through the White House Conference on Education, our Republican 
Administration initiated the most comprehensive Community-State-
Federal attempt ever made to solve the pressing problems of primary and 
secondary education. 
Four thousand communities, studying their school populations and their 
physical and financial resources, encouraged our Republican 
Administration to urge a five-year program of Federal assistance in 
building schools to relieve a critical classroom shortage. 
Republican leadership has enlarged Federal assistance for construction 
of hospitals, emphasizing low-cost care of chronic diseases and the 
special problems of older persons, and increased Federal aid for medical 
care of the needy. 
We have asked the largest increase in research funds ever sought in one 
year to intensify attacks on cancer, mental illness, heart disease and 
other dread diseases. 
District of Columbia 
We favor self-government, national suffrage and representation in the 
Congress of the United States for residents of the District of Columbia. 
Equal Rights 
We recommend to Congress the submission of a constitutional 
amendment providing equal rights for men and women. 
Civil Rights 
The Republican Party points to an impressive record of accomplishment 
in the field of civil rights and commits itself anew to advancing the 
rights of all our people regardless of race, creed, color or national origin. 
The Eisenhower Administration has eliminated discrimination in all 
federal employment. 
We concur in the conclusion of the Supreme Court that its decision 
directing school desegregation should be accomplished with "all 
deliberate speed" locally through Federal District Courts.  
Immigration 
The Republican Party supports an immigration policy which is in 
keeping with the traditions of America in providing a haven for 
oppressed peoples, and which is based on equality of treatment, freedom 
from implications of discrimination between racial, nationality and 
religious groups, and flexible enough to conform to changing needs and 
conditions. 
We believe that such a policy serves our self-interest, reflects our 
responsibility for world leadership and develops maximum cooperation 
with other nations in resolving problems in this area. 
Guarding and Improving Our Resources 
Policies of sound conservation and wise developmentâ€”originally 
advanced half a century ago under that preeminent Republican 
conservation team of President Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot 
and amplified by succeeding Republican Administrationsâ€”have been 
pursued by the Eisenhower Administration.  
While meeting the essential development needs of the people, this 
Administration has conserved and safeguarded our natural resources for 
the greatest good of all, now and in the future. 
Our national parks, national forests and wildlife refuges are now more 
adequately financed, better protected and more extensive than ever 
before.  
Declaration of Dedication 
With utmost confidence in the future and with justifiable pride in our 
achievements, the Republican Party warmly greets the dawn of our 
second century of service in the cause of unity and progress in the 
Nation. 
As the Party of the Young and in glowing appreciation of his dynamic 
leadership and inspiration, we respectfully dedicate this Platform of the 
Party of the Future to our distinguished President Dwight D. 
Eisenhower, and to the Youth of America. 
 
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