New Republic, The

Weekly journal of opinion, founded in 1914 by Willard Straight, with Herbert Croly as editor.

Long one of the most influential liberal magazines in the U.S., it early reflected the progressive movement and sought reforms in U.S. government and society. Its popularity declined in the 1920s when liberalism was out of favour but revived in the 1930s. After initially opposing Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration, it supported Roosevelt's New Deal. After becoming editor in 1946, former U.S. vice president Henry Wallace moved the magazine further left until he was forced to resign. In the early 1980s the magazine began to display an array of commentary reflecting the resurgence of conservatism in U.S. politics.

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▪ American magazine

      weekly journal of opinion that was one of the most influential liberal magazines in the United States from its founding in 1914. The magazine was begun by Willard Straight with Herbert David Croly (Croly, Herbert David) as its editor. The New Republic reflected the progressive movement and sought reforms in American government and society. Among its early editors or contributors were Randolph Silliman Bourne (Bourne, Randolph Silliman), Walter Lippmann (Lippmann, Walter), and Malcolm Cowley (Cowley, Malcolm).

      Early on, the journal supported the formation of labour unions, the eight-hour workday, and woman suffrage. It also supported President Woodrow Wilson's foreign policy during World War I, but later broke with him and opposed the Treaty of Versailles (Versailles, Treaty of). The magazine's popularity declined in the 1920s, when its liberal viewpoint was out of favour, but it revived in the 1930s. After early opposing him, The New Republic ended up supporting President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration and the New Deal. In 1946 Roosevelt's former vice president, Henry A. Wallace (Wallace, Henry A.), became the journal's editor but was ultimately forced to resign. By the end of the 20th century, The New Republic published a broader array of editorial opinion and commentary that reflected many political viewpoints. It has remained an influential journal of political commentary and analysis.

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