To use 51 to 63 as a baseline we would have to, first have a world war the destroyed most of the world infrastructure but left us untouched. Second then enact trade policies that allowed our industry to capitalize on this. Third our foreign policy would have to be about making sure US owned corporations maximized the investments as other countries rebuilt from the war.

People like to grab stats and points in time to promote a point of view. Best one I bumped into was the farmers. Everyone upset they were going broke, concerts, much concern. Real numbers 25% of the farmers in VERY bad shape. 50% doing just fine. 25% doing better than ever. Base line? Tax policies and government subsidies had made it so the small family farm could not compete. The problem was not driven by market or natural conditions but by government tax & regulation policies.

Any time someone grabs stats to make a point usually best to not place to much faith in them. Their next job will more than likely be selling fire water!