Eisenhower's New Look policy

Eisenhower kept many of..

Truman’s policies

what policies did Eisenhower keep of Truman’s

• The USA must keep sufficient influence in Western Europe which included a collective Western defense strategy which incorporated West Germany

• The USA must retain influence in Asia

• Containment is vital to US security 

• The USA must maintain a strong nuclear arsenal & conventional forces as means of defence

when campaigning for presidency…

Eisenhower pushed for a more proactive approach to dealings with Asia than Truman

who implemented Eisenhower’s New look Policy

US Secretary of State John Foster Dulles

what did the key aspects of the policy focus on

massive retaliation, brinkmanship, covert operations & strengthening global alliances

what was Rollback

Reducing the dominance of Soviet communism globally. 

Fundamental strand of Eisenhower’s New Look policy.

Was to only occur through peaceful means & Eisenhower never attempted to undermine the USSR or ‘liberate’ any pro-Soviet communist states.

Dulles wanted to …

roll back communism & Moscow’s power as part of a strategy to bring the Cold War to a successful conclusion for the US

why was rollback introduced

Containment had only created a stalemate

Eisenhower & Dulles saw containment as a strategy that ..

demanded a global reaction to any communist expansion that might occur

what was massive retaliation

Meant that the US needed to prepare to respond to attacks by conventional forces with nuclear weapons.

Nuclear weapons assumed a greater significance under Eisenhower as the basis for National Security & the USAs Cold War stance - increased reliance on nuclear weapons

why was massive retaliation introduced

Nuclear weapons were presented as the most cost effective method (Eisenhower & Dulles were worried about the cost of conventional forces in Asia) of guaranteeing US security & the most effective method of winning the Cold War

what did the NCS 162/2 report of October 1953 do

emphasised the view that the most effective method to deter aggression against Western Europe was for the USA to display its determination to use nuclear weapons & its nuclear superiority against any aggressor

For Dulles the USA’s arsenal was also a…

diplomatic tool against nuclear attack

what was brinkmanship

The USA could use its nuclear strength to attempt to force agreements from communist opponents.

Was the US being in a state that was ready to ‘go to the brink of war’ and confront any Soviet threat

why was brinkmanship introduced

Dulles was convinced that the ability to reach the verge of war, without actually engaging in a war, was essential in effective foreign policy & diplomacy against a potential aggressor. He believed failure to do this would result in defeat