Labor history of the United States democracy on the previously authoritarian union hierarchies. However, in the 1958 elections, taking place during a sharp economic recession, the unions fought back especially against state Right to Work laws and defeated many conservative Republicans. The Teamsters union was expelled from the AFL for its notorious corruption under president Dave Beck. Its troubles gained national attention from highly visible Senate hearings. The target was Jimmy Hoffa (1913–1975), who replaced Beck and held total power until he was imprisoned in 1964. The UAW under Reuther played a major role in funding and supporting the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and
Portland Hoffa main reason why he ceased hosting his own show after 1949, but Hoffa often joined him as a semi-regular on Tallulah Bankhead's radio variety show, "The Big Show" (1950–52). She also appeared as the "mystery guest" on one episode of television's "What's My Line", on which Allen had become a panelist from 1954 until his death in early 1956. Hoffa and Allen had also appeared in such films as "Is Everybody Listening?" (1947) and the Jack Benny vehicle "Buck Benny Rides Again" (1940). In 1959, after Allen's death, Hoffa married bandleader Joe Rines, later an advertising executive. Hoffa and Rines