1947
President Truman states the principle of Soviet containment (Truman Doctrine). Soviets attack the U.S. as "war mongers" in the United Nations General Assembly.

The wartime draft ends.

The Presidential Succession Act designates the Speaker of House, President pro tempore of the Senate, and Cabinet members according to rank as next in succession after the Vice President.

President Truman initiates a loyalty program for civil servants as the federal government is attacked for loose security.

Labor Management (Taft-Hartley Act) opposed by unions and others because it is designed to swing power in management-union relationships away from "excess" privileges unions have gained during the recent years.

Jack R. (Jackie) Robinson becomes the first African American major-league in the 20th century when he signs with Brooklyn Dodgers.


1948
Congress approves four-year recovery plan expenses for the Marshall plan.

The United States recognizes the new state of Israel. Ralph Bunche, an African American, succeeds in working out an Arab-Israeli armistice.

Miles Davis, a trumpeter, leads a nine piece combo that pioneers "cool" jazz.

General Motors Corporation signs the first sliding wage scale union contract with United Automobile Workers. That contract includes a clause that adjusts wages to the cost-of-living index.

The Selective Service Act authorizes the registration of all men between 18 and 25 and the drafting men to create an army of 837,000.

President Harry S. Truman’s executive order that desegregated the U.S. military was a definitive statement of equality that declared all service members must be judged by individual merit instead of their racial background.

The Republican Party again nominates Gov. Thomas E. Dewey of New York for President.

The Progressive Party, opposing President Truman's foreign policy, nominates Vice President Henry Wallace for President. The Communist Party supports Wallace.

Truman is reelected President and the Democrats take control of Congress.

Hortense M. Boutell is the first woman sworn in as an army officer.