Marginal tax rates are meaningless because, even in the 1950s, the system was complex and can be gamed. If you want to judge the net effect of tax policy over

Marginal tax rates are meaningless because, even in the 1950s, the system was complex and can be gamed. If you want to judge the net effect of tax policy over time, look at the percentage of GDP captured by federal receipts (the vast majority of which are taxes). In the U.S., it's averaged ~16.5%-~17.5% with occasional spikes and dips. Currently, it's very close to what it was in those 90%-marginal-rates 1950s.