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PrevPrevious EpisodeMust Religion & Science Conflict? (Part 8 of 8)
Next ExpisodeBenson & the John Birch Society (Part 9 of 13)Next

How Ezra Taft Benson Joined Eisenhower (Part 8 of 13)

Table of Contents: How Ezra Taft Benson Joined Eisenhower (Part 8 of 13)

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Ezra Taft Benson joined Eisenhower to be his Agriculture Secretary in 1952.  Benson didn’t even vote for Eisenhower!  But President McKay allowed apostle Benson to serve for eight years in the Eisenhower administration.  Dr. Matt Harris tells more about the relationship between Ike and ETB.

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Dwight Eisenhower has never met Benson before, but yet he wants a churchman into his cabinet because he thinks that will help with religious people for one and for two, he also wanted somebody in the Midwest. Even though, I guess, technically Utah’s not in the Midwest, he thought that that would help him with the Midwest vote. So he calls Benson and Benson says, “Are you sure you want me? I didn’t even vote for you.”

GT:  Oh, really?

Matt:  “I didn’t even vote for you.” So anyway, I won’t go into all the details, but he gets the blessing from President McKay. He gets the green light to take a leave of absence from his apostolic duties to go to Washington. What’s interesting is when he’s going to Washington, this is the era of McCarthyism

We’ll dig deep into Benson’s relationship with President Eisenhower, so you won’t want to miss it.  Please note this is the second half of our conversation with Dr. Matt Harris.  If you haven’t seen our previous interviews on the temple and priesthood ban, please check those out.  But here’s the next conversation with Dr. Matt Harris. Check out our conversation….

President Eisenhower looks on while Ezra Taft Benson is sworn in as Secretary of Agriculture by Supreme Court Justice Fred M. Vinson.
President Eisenhower looks on while Ezra Taft Benson is sworn in as Secretary of Agriculture by Supreme Court Justice Fred M. Vinson.

Check out our previous conversations with Dr. Harris!

161: Bruce R. McConkie Wrote Official Declaration 2! (Harris)

160: How Kimball Persuaded Apostles to Agree on Lifting Ban (Harris)

159: Almost Famous!  1969 Black Ordination Nixed by Lee (Harris)

158: Hugh B. Brown’s Attempt to End Ban in 1962! (Harris)

157: Did Pres. McKay Try to Rescind Ban in 1955? (Harris)

156: When, Where, & Why Did the One-Drop Rule Originate? (Harris)

155: Before 1978:  How LDS Leaders Handled Bi-racial Families in Brazil and South Africa (Harris)

 

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More Podcasts with these Guests:

  • GT Live! Top 20 Topics We Missed with Matt Harris
  • *What was Left Out? (Matt Harris 6 of 6)
  • Fired from First Presidency (Matt Harris 5 of 6)
  • Inside the Room for 1978 Revelation (Matt Harris 4 of 6)
  • What Lester Bush Missed (Matt Harris 3 of 6)

Get more information on the people and things discussed in this episode:

  • Guest: Matt Harris
  • Racial Priesthood/Temple Ban
  • Historical Mentions Ezra Taft Benson, Mormon History
  • Tags: anti-communism, civil rights, Civil Rights Movement, communism, Dwight Eisenhower, Eisenhower administration, GT Podcast, iTunes, Racial Stereotypes, secretary of agriculture

Tell me when the next episode drops!

PrevPrevious EpisodeMust Religion & Science Conflict? (Part 8 of 8)
Next ExpisodeBenson & the John Birch Society (Part 9 of 13)Next
  • Date: February 22, 2019
  • Guest: Matt Harris
  • Racial Priesthood/Temple Ban
  • Historical Mentions Ezra Taft Benson, Mormon History
  • Tags: anti-communism, civil rights, Civil Rights Movement, communism, Dwight Eisenhower, Eisenhower administration, GT Podcast, iTunes, Racial Stereotypes, secretary of agriculture
  • Posted By: RickB

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Rick Bennett, Host of Gospel Tangents

Rick Bennett is the friendly, independent historian at the heart of Gospel Tangents LDS Podcast: The Best Source for Mormon History, Science, and Theology. When he isn't interviewing Mormon scholars, prophets, and others, he is teaching math and statistics at Utah Valley University. He also freelances as a research biostatistician in the fields of Dermatology and Traumatic Brian Injuries, as well as in the network television/cable T.V. industries as a sports statistician. Rick holds a Master of Statistics Degree from the University of Utah.

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