HasTexasalwaysbeenoneoftheUnitedStates’mostconservativestates?Theanswermightsurpriseyou.BootstrapLiberalismoffersaglimpseintotheworldofDepression-eraTexaspolitics,revealingapartisanculturethatwasoftenfarmoreideologicallynuancedandcomplexthanmeetstheeye.TheLoneStarStateisoftenviewedasabastionofconservativepoliticsandrugged“bootstrap“individualism,butthatnarrativeoverlooksthefactthatFDR’sNewDealwasquitepopularinTexas,muchmoresothanprevioushistoriesoftheerahavesuggested.WhileitistruethatmanyTexasDemocratsremainedstaunchlyconservativeduringFranklinD.Roosevelt’spresidency,anditisalsotruethatmanyoftheseconservativesformedthebasisofanestablishedmajoritythatwouldgrowstrongerinthedecadesthatfollowed,itissimultaneouslytruethatordinaryvoters--andagoodmanypoliticians--embracedNewDealpolicies,federalexperimentation,anddirecteconomicaid,andoftendidsoenthusiasticallyasliberalTexasDemocratsrodeFDR’scoattailstoelectoralsuccess.TexaspoliticalleadersrecognizedthepopularityoftheNewDealandidentifiedthemselveswithFDRfortheirownpoliticaladvantage.Usingoriginalresourcesminedfromsixresearcharchives,BootstrapLiberalismexplorescampaignstrategiesandpolicydebatesastheyunfoldedatthelocal,state,andnationallevelsthroughouttheGreatDepressionandWorldWarIIeras,revealingaconsistentbrandofpro-NewDealmessagingthatwonfavorwithvotersacrossthestate.MostTexasDemocratsdidnotapologizeforsupportingFDR.Rather,theycelebratedhimandoftenmarketedthemselvesasNewDealDemocrats.Votersendorsedthatstrategybyelectingliberalsthroughoutthe1930sandearly1940s.
