Haunting prediction from the 1950s

David Lilienthal ran the Tennessee Valley Authority for President Roosevelt, and the Atomic Energy Commission for President Truman.  This is from his book T.V.A. - Democracy on the March (1953).

Democracy cannot thrive long in an atmosphere of scorn or fear.  One of two things ultimately happens: either distrustful citizens, their fears often capitalized upon by selfish men, refuse to yield to the national government the powers which it should have in the common interest; or an arrogant central government imposes its will by force.  In either case the substance of democracy has perished.