Harry Truman Proclaimed National Emergency

 

President Harry S. Truman signed a proclamation declaring a national emergency on Dec. 16, 1950.

The national state of emergency was stated to fight “Communist imperialism,” a reference to Chinese forces fighting against United States-led United Nations forces in the Korean War. The president signed a proclamation stating that it was necessary “that the military, naval, air and civilian defenses of this country be strengthened as speedily as possible to the end that we may be able to repel any and all threats against our national security.” It called on “all citizens to make a united effort for the security and well-being of our beloved country and our farmers, our workers in industry and our businessmen to make a mighty production effort to meet the nation's defense requirements.” The emergency proclamation granted the president additional executive powers and allowed him to institute several price and wage controls to strengthen American defense forces. The United States entered Korea in June 1950 when President Truman issued an order for American troops to enforce a United Nations resolution condemning the invasion of South Korea by Communist North Korea. U.N. forces commanded by Gen. Douglas MacArthur drove North Korean forces back to North Korea. President Truman and General MacArthur then decided to send the United Nations into North Korea, gambling that it would not provoke China to enter the war. The move backfired, as Chinese forces began fighting in October 1950 and by mid-December had driven most of the United Nations forces back into South Korea.

The emergency proclamation therefore came at a low point for the United States in the Korean War and reflected fears that the war would escalate into a much larger conflict. Fighting in Korea would settle around the North-South Korean border and reach a stalemate by July 1951. It continued for another two years, and the two sides negotiated an armistice.

In 1952, President Truman issued an executive order placing the steel industry under government control to prevent a strike, arguing that steel production was necessary for defense and could not be hindered during wartime. He cited his 1950 emergency proclamation in the executive order. The case was brought before the Supreme Court, which ruled that the president had no right to rule without the consent of Congress, even during an emergency.