Answer the following questions about President Truman use of elective privilege in 1952.

A. What was the problem that Truman faced back in 1952?

B. What did Truman due to deal with the situation?

C. What was the response of the steel mill owners? What was Truman's response to the steel mill owners

D. How did the Supreme Court rule in this case?

A) Truman faced the problem of a potential steel strike in 1952. This was a major concern for Truman because the United States was involved in the Korean War, and needed an uninterrupted steel supply for ammunition, military vehicles, etc.

B) Truman seized control of the steel industry, citing executive privilege by stating that as Commander in Chief, he had to ensure that the military was able to safely carry out its mission with full supplies, in the best interest of the United States and the safety of US soldiers.

C) Although the decision was fairly popular with the workers, the steelmill owners reacted quickly and took the decision to court, stating that Truman did not have the authority to take over the steel industry. The Truman Administration began negotiating with the companies as the case made its way up the Courts (a case very rarely goes directly to the Supreme Court, but instead is passed up through several lower-level federal courts). The negotiations were making headway until the Supreme Court decided to hear the case.

D) The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the steel mill companies, stating that the Truman Administration was acting beyond its Constitutional Powers. The President did not, given the situation, have the authority to seize private property.