President Truman's inaugural address in January, 1949, listed the programs that he wanted his new administration to carry out. His fouth point called for a United States policy to combat communism through long-range economic development based on technical cooperation. This program quickly became known as the Point Four program, and during the mext year and a half extensive public and congressional debate centered on the proposal's merit plus the proper methods to implement it. Extension of the existing Institute of Inter-American Affairs occurred in 1949 followed by passage of the Act for International Development in June, 1950. Thus, the Truman administration, building on earlier technical assistance experience in Latin America launched a worldwide experiment in technological exchange. In addition to United States bilateral assistance, expanded programs developed in the United Nations and the Organization of American States under United States impetus. Subsequent modifications followed the outbreak of the Korean War and led to a merger of technical, economic, and military assistance within the Mutual Security Agency diminishing the purely technical and humanitarian aspects of Point Four. Point Four programs in Latin America included various efforts to increase agricultural production, improve health and sanitation conditions, and enhance popular educational levels. American technicians worked with their Latin American counterparts in servicios expecially organized to permit mutual cooperation. American faith in free enterprise and private capital investment created difficulties between Point Four policy-makers and many host countries' officials who preferred government-to-government grants and loans supported by considerable state economic control. Traditional Latin American animosities toward North Americans augmented by political and social instability in many parts of Latin American further complicated the programs. In addition, anticipated increased capital from expanded American private invetment failed to materialize when efforts to guarantee investments failed, and other factors countinued to make American business hesitant about investing heavily in Latin America. In spite of continuing complex problems and Point Four's rather limited "Success" by the end of 1952, the Truman administration successfully committed the American nation to a policy of helping underdeveloped countries through cooperative programs of technical assistance. President Truman's leadership, aided by bipartisan support in Congress, overcame strong congressional opposition enabling Congress to enact legislation providing a base upon which to build a new and continuing phase of American foreign policy.