Politifact: Income tax rates were 90 percent under Eisenhower, True

[cal04]

(snip)
During the eight years of the Eisenhower presidency, from 1953 to 1961, the top marginal rate was 91 percent. (It was 92 percent the year he came into office.)

(snip)
Sanders said income tax rates under Eisenhower were as high as 90 percent.

A look through the records shows that top earners in the eight years of Eisenhower’s presidency paid a top income tax rate of 91 percent. It was even a bit higher before he took office.

We rate Sanders’ statement True.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/nov/15/bernie-s/income-tax-rates-were-90-percent-under-eisenhower-/

[Kalidurga]

1. People think that is from the entire amount they earn.

They forget it's only that rate above a certain amount of money I don't know how much was not taxed at that rate, but it was a considerable amount also tax loopholes etc... so they would still pay a lot more than now, but not so much that they would feel like they just handed over their years earnings to the government.

[Fawke Em]

4. I've been trying to explain this all week on Twitter.

When I actually push back, the right-wingers leave. They have NOTHING.

THIS is the next goal. Easily explain the marginal rate.

[MrMickeysMom]

5. progressive, graduated tax...

As it should be to support a democracy and raise up the working class to lubricate society.

Imagine that again, plus, the kind of health care that is A RIGHT!

Imagine that.

[CJCRANE]

7. IIRC it was on income above $400,000, equivalent to about $4M today nt.

[putitinD]

2. true, but nobody ever paid that much....instead, you would donate to charity, give your workers

raises and better benefits. build a wing on a hospital. to avoid paying 91% and Everybody benefited from it.....not just a handful of Billionaires

[Cheese Sandwich]

3. FDR actually tried to raise the top tax bracket rate to 100%

He compromised though and a couple years later got it up to 94%.

My hero.

[eridani]

6. I really liked that he said that Eisenhower was more socialist than he was

Exactly the right approach--forget about Denmark and talk about American public goods.

[davidpdx]

8. Thank you for posting this

Even if we were able to get the tax rates back up to where they were under Bill Clinton, both the deficit and debt would be reduced and would allow for additional spending on social programs and infrastructure.

[SandersDem]

9. Yes, true

and while the top tax rate was high, it was high in order to offset all of the legal deductions that the top earners could use to reduce their tax burden. I don't think anybody paid an effective 91% tax rate from the top.

[azmom]

10. It makes no sense to keep taxes on

The rich so low, when we have such massive income inequality.

Something's gotta give.