Record of the 84th Congress (Second Session)

Report Outline
Eisenhower and the Democratic Congress
Government Finances
Foreign Relations
National Defense
Agricultural Legislation
Business and Labor Legislation
Public Works and Resource Development
Social Welfare Legislation
Civil Rights and Immigration
Machinery of Government
Special Focus

Eisenhower and the Democratic Congress

The middle-of-the-road 84th Congress shut up shop July 27 and left for the political wars with much of its work unaccomplished. Fewer than half of the more than 200 recommendations submitted by President Eisenhower were translated into law. However, most of the legislation that did reach the White House was of a kind the President could accept; only three major bills were vetoed.

The second session of the 84th Congress will be remembered for adoption of the soil bank program to limit farm surpluses and raise farmers' incomes, and for initiation of a long-term highway program to relieve traffic congestion and improve traffic safety. It may be remembered also for failure to deal effectively with serious school and race problems, failure to enact new clean-elections legislation, failure to come to grips with problems relating to presidential disability.

The Democratic opposition scored a few victories that will be politically effective but the administration suffered no devastating defeats. The President was given more money than he had asked for national defense (but cannot be forced to spend all of it); less money than he wanted for foreign aid (but this can be pieced out from unexpended balances of prior appropriations). Although there was serious questioning of various aspects of the administration's foreign and military policies, attempts to force radical changes by legislation were left to the next Congress.