In the 50s the USA was benefitting from being the only developed country not destroyed by the war. Also, while the tax rares were “hat high, no one paid that because of loopholes in the tax laws. Those conditions don’t exist today.
You have pointed out an oft-overlooked fact about being the only developed country with an economy not devastated by WW2. I’m always surprised by those who proclaim themselves as being the superior intelligence due to their worldview but can’t connect to basic history. Krugman is a prime suspect in this fallacy, IMO.