A new book explores how FDR shaped modern policing and the security state
Washington, D.C.: So, there’s this new book out called *New Deal Law and Order* by Anthony Gregory. It dives into how FDR really laid the groundwork for what we now see as the American security state. You know, the whole mass incarceration and militarized police thing? Yeah, it’s a big deal.
Gregory points out that while we often blame later presidents for ramping up police power, FDR was actually the one who set a lot of this in motion. He took a tough stance on crime, but it wasn’t just about keeping the peace. It was about building a system that could control dissent and maintain order.
He talks about how, back in the day, there were all these issues like racial violence, labor strikes, and organized crime. Instead of just calling them crimes, they labeled them as “lawlessness.” This made it easier for the federal government to step in and take control, which is pretty wild when you think about it.
FDR’s administration worked closely with local and state governments to expand policing. They created this partnership that Gregory calls “war-on-crime federalism.” It’s like everyone was in on it, trying to boost their own power while tackling crime.
What’s interesting is how FDR managed to keep a diverse coalition together. He gave support to Southern Democrats who had their own agendas while also trying to appease civil rights activists. It was a balancing act, for sure.
And let’s not forget about the key players from previous administrations who stuck around. People like J. Edgar Hoover and Harry Anslinger used FDR’s crime policies to expand their own power. Hoover, in particular, turned the FBI into a major player in this new security landscape.
Gregory argues that FDR redefined what it meant to be a liberal. He made it okay for the government to take a more aggressive approach to law and order, all while wrapping it in the language of liberal values. It’s a bit of a contradiction, right?
Even some critics of FDR ended up praising him later on. Roger Baldwin from the ACLU, for instance, acknowledged that while there were serious civil liberties violations, he still saw some good in FDR’s overall record.
What’s really eye-opening is how Gregory shows that liberal ideals can be twisted to justify state violence. It’s a reminder that the rhetoric we love can sometimes be used for not-so-great purposes.
FDR’s era saw the rise of gun control, the drug war, and a stronger connection between local police and national security. The New Deal’s war on crime laid the groundwork for a system that would be used during World War II, including some pretty shameful actions like Japanese internment.
Gregory’s book also highlights how different forms of state power are interconnected. Expanding welfare services often went hand-in-hand with increasing crime control measures. It’s a tangled web that shows how the security state and welfare state can reinforce each other.
Today, we’re still feeling the effects of this “war-on-crime federalism.” Local police departments are using military-style tactics and tools that they got from the federal government. It’s a cycle that keeps going, and Gregory’s work really helps us understand how we got here.
NATHAN P. GOODMAN is a senior fellow at George Mason University’s Mercatus Center, focusing on public choice and defense economics.
