Editing Marshall Plan (section)

==Passage in Congress==
Congress, under the control of conservative Republicans, agreed to the program for multiple reasons. The 20-member conservative isolationist Senate wing of the party, based in the rural Midwest and led by Senator [[Kenneth S. Wherry]] (R-Nebraska), was outmaneuvered by the emerging internationalist wing, led by Senator [[Arthur H. Vandenberg]] (R-Michigan). The opposition argued that it made no sense to oppose communism by supporting the socialist governments in Western Europe; and that American goods would reach Russia and increase its war potential. They called it "a wasteful 'operation rat-hole'"{{sfn |Bailey |1977 |p=232}} Vandenberg, assisted by Senator [[Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.]] (R-Massachusetts) admitted there was no certainty that the plan would succeed, but said it would halt economic chaos, sustain Western civilization, and stop further Soviet expansion. Senator [[Robert A. Taft]] (R-Ohio) hedged on the issue. He said it was without economic justification; however, it was "absolutely necessary" in "the world battle against communism." In the end, only 17 senators voted against it on March 13, 1948{{sfn|Campbell|1948|pp=500–05}} A bill granting an initial $5 billion passed Congress with strong bipartisan support. Congress eventually allocated $12.4 billion in aid over the four years of the plan.{{sfn|Grogin|2001|p=118}}

Congress reflected public opinion, which resonated with the ideological argument that communism flourishes in poverty. Across America, multiple interest groups, including business, labor, farming, philanthropy, ethnic groups, and religious groups, saw the Marshall Plan as an inexpensive solution to a massive problem, noting it would also help American exports and stimulate the American economy as well. Major newspapers were highly supportive, including such conservative outlets as [[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]]. Vandenberg made sure of bipartisan support on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Solid Democratic South was highly supportive, the upper Midwest was dubious, but heavily outnumbered. The plan was opposed by conservatives in the rural Midwest, who opposed any major government spending program and were highly suspicious of Europeans.{{sfn|Smuckler|1953|pp=386–401}} The plan also had some opponents on the left, led by [[Henry A. Wallace]], the former vice president. He said the plan was hostile to the Soviet Union, a subsidy for American exporters, and sure to polarize the world between East and West.{{sfn|Hogan|1987|p=93}} However, opposition against the Marshall Plan was greatly reduced by the shock of the [[Czechoslovak coup d'état of 1948|communist coup in Czechoslovakia]] in February 1948. The appointment of the prominent businessman [[Paul G. Hoffman]] as director reassured conservative businessmen that the gigantic sums of money would be handled efficiently.{{sfnm|Hitchens|1968|1pp=51–68|Kunz|1997|2p=}}