Eisenhower foreign policy

What unique military background did Eisenhower bring to the presidency regarding the Cold War?

He had been the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in WWII and NATO's first Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

Who did Eisenhower appoint as Secretary of State, and what aggressive policy did he announce in 1954?

John Foster Dulles, a staunch anti-communist who introduced the policy of "massive retaliation" using extreme nuclear force against threats.

Who replaced Josef Stalin as leader of the Soviet Union in 1953, and how did his approach differ?

Nikita Khrushchev, who opposed many of Stalin's policies and began undoing many of his predecessor's changes.

What was the "RDS-4," and how did its development by the USSR in 1953 impact the arms race?

It was the first Soviet hydrogen bomb that was compact enough to be dropped by a plane, unlike the initial bulky US versions.

What was Eisenhower's 1953 "New Look" policy introduced in response to Soviet nuclear gains?

A defense policy asserting that the US must maintain absolute military and nuclear superiority over the Soviet Union.

What were the first Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) developed by the USSR and US in 1957?

The Soviet "R-7 Semyorka" and the American "SM-65 Atlas," both capable of delivering nuclear payloads anywhere on Earth.

What was the "missile gap" panic of 1958, and what was the actual reality of the nuclear stockpile?

A public fear that the USSR had more nuclear weapons than the US; in reality, the US had 5,500 weapons compared to the USSR's 550.

What was "Sputnik," and what political impact did its 1957 launch have on ordinary Americans?

It was the first artificial satellite launched into space by the USSR; its radio signal terrified Americans and triggered the Space Race.

What embarrassing US failure occurred on live television during the 1957 satellite launch attempt?

The Vanguard TV3 rocket blew up during its launch, earning it the public nickname "Kaputnik."

What milestone did the Soviet Union achieve in 1958 with the launch of Sputnik 2?

They successfully sent the first living creature, a dog named Laika, into space.

What was the Warsaw Pact of 1955, and which nations formed it?

A communist military alliance formed by East Germany, Albania, Romania, Poland, Hungary, the USSR, Bulgaria, and Czechoslovakia to counter NATO.

How did the Soviet Union respond to the Hungarian Revolution of 1956?

Khrushchev sent 30,000 Soviet soldiers to brutally retake the capital city of Budapest and crush the anti-communist protests.

What did the US refusal to intervene in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution signal to the Soviet Union?

It proved that the United States would allow Eastern Europe to remain strictly within the Soviet communist sphere of influence.

What was the "Spirit of Camp David" in 1959?

A temporary warming of Cold War relations after Eisenhower invited Khrushchev to the US to discuss the status of West Berlin.

What major 1960 espionage event abruptly ended the positive diplomatic relations between Eisenhower and Khrushchev?

The U-2 Crisis, in which a US spy plane conducting surveillance over the Soviet Union was shot down.

How did Eisenhower fulfill his 1952 campaign promise regarding the Korean War?

He secured a formal armistice agreement between the two sides in July 1953, just months after taking office.

How did the 1955 Formosa Resolution protect Chiang Kai-shek's government in Taiwan?

It authorized Eisenhower to use the US military to defend Taiwan, successfully forcing China to stop its artillery shelling.

What was SEATO, and which nations formed it in 1954 to halt the spread of Asian communism?

The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, formed by Australia, France, the UK, the US, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand.

What 1954 military disaster marked the end of French colonial rule in Vietnam?

The French defeat by Ho Chi Minh's communist rebels at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, which Eisenhower refused to militarily intervene in.

How was Vietnam temporarily divided under the terms of the 1954 Geneva Accords?

It was split into a communist North led by Ho Chi Minh and a non-communist South led by President Diem, with reunification elections set for 1956.

What was Eisenhower's "Domino Theory" introduced in 1955?

The belief that if South Vietnam fell to communism, the surrounding nations of Southeast Asia would inevitably fall next like a row of dominoes.

Why did Eisenhower support President Diem's decision to cancel the 1956 Vietnamese reunification elections?

He feared that Ho Chi Minh's communist party would win the democratic vote and take control of the entire country.

How did the number of US military advisers in South Vietnam change during the Eisenhower administration?

The number of American advisers escalated from just 17 in 1953 to 685 by the time Eisenhower left office in 1961.

What was the Baghdad Pact, and what was it renamed to in 1958 after Iraq withdrew?

An anti-communist Middle Eastern alliance including Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, and the UK; it was renamed METO (Middle East Treaty Organization).

How did Eisenhower respond to the 1956 Suez Crisis, and what was his primary motive?

He used severe economic pressure to force Britain, France, and Israel to return the Suez Canal to Egypt to prevent Egypt from allying with the USSR.

What did the 1957 Eisenhower Doctrine commit the United States to do in the Middle East?

It committed the US to provide direct military and economic aid to any Middle Eastern nation threatened by communism, backed by $200 million from Congress.

Why and how did the Eisenhower administration intervene in Guatemala in 1954?

After Guatemala legalized the communist party, the US funded a coup and used the US Navy to install the pro-American dictator Castillo Armas.

What major geopolitical threat emerged just off the coast of the United States in 1959?

Fidel Castro overthrew the pro-American Cuban dictator and established a communist regime in Cuba.

How did Eisenhower secretly respond to Fidel Castro's communist takeover of Cuba before leaving office?

He ordered the CIA to begin covertly training Cuban exiles to launch a military invasion of the island.