Legislative support of Truman Point Four program (1949-1950)
The process of shaping of the legislation of the first American program for technical assistance to developing countries is the subject of this article. The so called Point Four of President Truman’s inaugural address initiated a new direction for the theory and practice of international development assistance in world politics. A detailed analysis of the discussion and debate in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives makes it possible to trace the evolution of a new foreign policy for America. The liberal reformist concept from an original idea up to the enactment of the Foreign Economic Assistance Act of 1950 is chronicled.