The first debt ceiling fight was in 1953. It looked almost exactly like the one today

The first debt ceiling fight took place in 1953, with striking similarities to the current situation in Congress.

History lesson: The debt ceiling was created in 1939 to simplify the process of managing government debt.
* By 1953, the debt ceiling stood at about $275 billion, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower requested a $15 billion increase to accommodate expenses from the Korean War.
* The House agreed, but a group of Senators rejected the request, leading to the implementation of budgetary measures to cut back on expenses, similar to the measures announced by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in January 2022.

The debate: Both in 1953 and present day, arguments centered around the wisdom of raising the debt limit while grappling with the size and scope of government spending.
* Compromise was eventually reached, with Congress approving a $6 billion debt ceiling increase, less than half of what Eisenhower had initially requested.

Ongoing debates: Since 1953, debt ceiling battles have become increasingly contentious, with each conflict drawing closer to the risk of default, highlighting the importance of addressing this issue with caution.

View original article on NPR

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