Federalism Ends, FDR Freezes, Truman Seizes

On this day: April 8

The 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, requiring direct election of Senators, becomes law (1913)

President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in an attempt to check inflation, freezes wages and prices, prohibits workers from changing jobs unless the war effort would be aided thereby, and bars rate increases to common carriers and public utilities (1943)

President Harry S Truman calls for the seizure of all domestic steel mills to prevent a nationwide strike (1952)