Clinton
Anderson
Clinton
P. Anderson (1895-1975) served as Secretary of Agriculture
under President Harry S. Truman from 1945-48. Prior
to his move to Washington, Anderson worked as a newspaper
journalist and editor, later becoming involved in
civic organizations and politics. He served in the
U.S. House of Representatives from 1940 to 1945 as
a congressman from New Mexico.
Shortly after he became president, Truman selected
Anderson to serve as his Secretary of Agriculture.
His most immediate concern was the reorganization
of the domestic agricultural economy, which for the
previous four years, had been focused on supporting
the American war effort. Anderson addressed issues
such as price controls, shortages, and subsidies,
and he played an important role in developing post-war
agricultural policies.
The domestic situation was only one of Anderson's
concerns as Secretary of Agriculture. The looming
worldwide food crisis, which was becoming more evident
by 1946, led President Truman to establish the Famine
Emergency Committee. Truman convinced former President
Herbert Hoover to serve as its chairman. During this
crisis, Anderson, Truman, and Hoover worked together
very closely. Many of Hoover's proposals on alleviating
the international food shortage were adopted by the
Truman administration and it became Anderson's responsibility
to implement these proposals. These three men can
be credited with preventing an even larger international
disaster.
Anderson resigned as Secretary in 1948 and ran a successful
campaign for the U.S. Senate in New Mexico. He remained
in the Senate until his retirement in 1973. For more
information see: American National Biography v.1 p.
448-9, Harry S. Truman Encyclopedia p. 8-9.
