On October 7th, 1948 President Harry S. Truman made a campaign stop in Reading where he addressed a crowd of roughly 20,000 on Penn Square at 10:45am. He spoke from a platform which was erected on the southeast corner of 5th & Penn. The city was already decorated in celebration of Reading’s Bicentennial anniversary, and a Pennsylvania Fire Fighter’s parade was to take place at 1:00 that afternoon.

When President Truman arrived at Franklin Street Station he was greeted by Reading’s Mayor John F. Davis. Together they hopped in a motorcade bound for Penn Square.

The following excerpt is from an October 7th, 1948 Reading Eagle article which described President Truman’s speech to the people of Berks County. I found it astounding that the speech consists of the same talking points of the current election, nearly 80 years later:

President Harry S. Truman, carrying his campaign into Reading this morning, lashed out anew at the Republican-dominated 80th Congress and pledged that a Democratic victory at the polls in November will bring an increase in minimum wages, a solution to the housing problem and a lowering of the cost of living. Speaking for eight minutes before a large audience on Penn Square, Mr. Truman declared that his party will eradicate “the awful things which the 80th Congress did” when a majority of Democrats again controls the government in January. The President said that a Democrat Congress will run the government “for all of the people and not for just a select few, as has been the case under Republican domination.“

Mr. Truman referred to the high income which farmers have been enjoying for the past several years. “It was true, too that everybody got a reasonably fair income, but the Republicans didn’t listen to me to get a still fairer distribution,” the President said.

“The Republicans didn’t want price control. They only wanted higher profits. If you will look at the statistics, you will find that profits increased 70 per cent since the Republicans killed price control. The record shows that this country has had the greatest income taxes in its history. The figure is something like $20,000,000,000 this year.“

Discusses Prices and Wages

“But America is more interested in lower prices than in big profits. I have pledged myself to the fight of price control. I, too, have taken a determined stand on minimum wages. I believe a minimum of 75 cents an hour would be the ideal figure. But the Republicans think that $16 a week is enough for any working man.

In the 80th Congress, the Republicans were too busy to do anything about minimum wages, but they weren’t too busy to pass the Taft-Hartley law.*

It is my aim to raise the minimum wage to combat the Republican high prices. We must combat the competition from low wage areas.”

Housing Discussed

“Our country certainly does have a housing shortage. But the Republicans didn’t care about it. They don’t want to clear the slums. We will do something about that problem. We will find a solution that will prove a sound investment for the government. Everyone will benefit, not just the real estate lobby.

The only way to get the needed help on high prices, housing and minimum wages will be to go to the polls on November 2nd and vote straight democratic,” the President declared. “With a Democratic administration, the United States will be in safe hands.“

*The Taft-Hartley Act, also known as the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947 restricted the power of labor unions and limited their ability to strike and boycott. It was passed by Congress on June 23, 1947, despite President Harry S. Truman’s veto. Read more about it