onically, the GOP of Lincoln, McKinley, Teddy Roosevelt, Coolidge, Ike, was protectionist. Eve Reagan imposed tariffs
You forget to name Bush II, who famously went protectionist on sheet steel to protect steelworker jobs. But it backfired and sent appliance manufacturer jobs to Asia. Bush II protecting steel is a major reason for loss of Rust Belt manufacturing jobs. Once gone, they are hard to get back.
“Bush II protecting steel is a major reason for loss of Rust Belt manufacturing jobs”
No, nothing could be further from the truth. The actual reason was free trade where we literally gave tax credits to companies to relocate manufacturing offshore near sources of destitute 3rd world labor and then send the products home tariff free. And usually from nations that impose tariffs on us!