Eisenhower and the Cold War (1953-1961)

New Look

natural security policy that was supposed to reflect coming change in military orientation; made from NSC 162/2; reevaluated military priorities, committed US to smaller army & navy while building up nuclear weapons reserves & expanded Air Force (in case of nuclear strikes)

NSC 162/2

1953; addressed soviet nuclear threat & US determination to maintain nuclear superiority

brinkmanship

strategy that allowing events to escalate to dangerous levels in hopes that opposition will back down, fearful oof consequences; in case of threat of massive retaliation, US thought it could contain communism by forcing USSR to back down; increased # nuclear weapons US had

mutually assured destruction (MAD)

Eisenhower recognized technology created this; massive retaliation from one side might produced the same on the other; led to two US-soviet summits in 1955 and 1959 to address nuclear weapons threat

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

1947: headed by Allen Dulles; potential recognized by Dulles & Eisenhower as they knew CIA can also get information; operations that undermined regimes that the US felt threatened regional stability through socialist policies or communist Govs; subsidized anti-communist labor unions, hired US journalists/academics to contact foreign student leaders, etc; president removed from decision making

Operation Ajax

(1953) The British and the CIA tried to overthrow mossadegh with Shah of Iran in order to protect oil interests after the Mohammad Mossadegh nationalized oil industry; bribed religious & military leaders & gave lots of money

NSC 144/1

March 1953; tells LA that the capital they need for economic development can be provided by private enterprise & investment

Caracas Declaration

1954; rejected marxism after US & Guatemala issues; not much force so US did embargoes & covert operations to oppose Arbenz; refused to sell military Guatemala to Guatemala, causing Arbenz to approach Eastern Europe for military support bc fearful of invasion; condemned international communism as threat to americas

Operation PBSuccess

1954: a covert operation organized by the United States Central Intelligence Agency to overthrow Jacobo Arbenz (Guatemala). Put Col. Carlos Enrique Castillo Armas into power.

Nixon's trip to Caracas, Venezuela

1958; greeted with hostility & rocks thrown at him; different from cheering crowds greeting FDR in 1936; wake up call fro changing US foreign policy in LA

Social Progress Fund

development assistance forLatin America

Cuban Revolution

1959; cuban gov turned left so Castro & followers made victory tour; Castro pursued socialist policies;

U-2 Spy Incident

May 1960

marking the deterioration of US relations with Soviet Union; US U-2 spy plane was shot down over Soviet Union airspace. Although denying the plane's purpose at first, it was forced to admit the plane's role as a surveillance aircraft.

Eisenhower's Farewell Address/"military industrial complex"

1961 - symbiotic relationship between a nation's military, economy, and politics. The idea being that if the military becomes the biggest client for manufacturers then the nation will begin to invest more of its economy into military contracts.