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Page 1: Ike and 1950’s Foreign Policy

Democrats

• Adlai Stevenson: Governor of Illinois.

• Truman's Popularity: Could run for re-election but wasn't very popular.

Republicans

• Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike): Important general, not a career politician, ran for president in 1952.

• Richard Nixon: Congressman, senator, hard-line Cold Warrior, Eisenhower's VP.

  • Trouble during 1952 campaign due to a secret account controversy.

  • Delivered the "Checkers Speech," claiming contributions only went to his dog, restoring his political reputation.

• Television's Role: Eisenhower leverages TV for election success, critical in shaping public opinion.

• Election of 1952: Eisenhower emerges as the victorious candidate.

Background on Dwight D. Eisenhower

• Early Life: Born in Texas in 1890, raised in Kansas.

• Military Career: Graduate from West Point, served in WWI, became prominent in WWII as Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe.

• Career Highlights: Led Operation Torch; post-war, served as president of Columbia University; managed NATO.

• Leadership Style: Focused on restoring peace rather than pursuing significant social or cultural changes.

• Public Perception: Critics claimed he preferred playing golf to presidential duties.

Ike’s Cold War Strategy

• Military Restructuring: Increased air power and nuclear arsenal while decreasing traditional military forces.

• CIA Utilization: Heightened reliance on CIA for global operations.

• Secretary of State: John Foster Dulles, influential in foreign policy.

Page 2: Cold War Policies and CIA

Brinkmanship

• Concept: Approach of getting close to nuclear conflict without engaging, used as a deterrent against adversaries.

New Look Defense Policy

• Spending Shift: Decreased army/navy budget; increased air force budget and stockpiling of nuclear weapons.

• CIA Development: Central Intelligence Agency created in 1947, evolving from the wartime OSS, faced initial challenges due to lack of jurisdiction.

  • Significant developments in 1949 include a formal charter creating a structured budget and operational scope, albeit with recurring jurisdictional violations.

• Early Failures: The CIA struggled at first, often trailing the Soviet Union in intelligence gathering.

• Allen Dulles's Leadership: Revamped CIA operations with notable successes, including:

  • The overthrow of Iran’s leadership, installing the pro-West Shah.

  • Interventions in the Philippines and Guatemala.

  • Mind control experiments (MK Ultra) and propaganda efforts like Radio Free Europe, which ultimately inspired dissidence within communist regimes.

Ike and Vietnam

• French Indochina: Truman financially supported the French, despite Vietnamese aspirations for independence post-WWII.

• US Involvement: Eisenhower’s administration began escalating the U.S. commitment to South Vietnam amid concerns over communism, cancelling proposed reunification elections.

Page 3: Continued Conflicts and Policies

Ike and Korea

• Korean War Strategy: Promised to end the war; negotiated an armistice post-Stalin's death after failed initial efforts.

Ike and Egypt

• Gamal Abdel Nasser: Came to power in 1954, declared neutrality in the Cold War, inciting U.S. displeasure; resulted in cancelled American loans.

• Suez Crisis: Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt but faced U.S. discontent leading to the Eisenhower Doctrine, pledging military support for nations resisting communism.

Page 4: South America and Soviet Relations

Ike and South America

• Nixon's 1958 Visit: Faced public hostility in Peru and Venezuela.

Cuban Revolution (1959)

• Key Figures: Revolution led by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, both viewed unfavorably by the U.S.

• CIA Operations: Attempts to assassinate Castro were unsuccessful, leading to his prolonged leadership.

Ike and the Soviet Union

• Nikita Khrushchev's Leadership: Introduced a less aggressive style compared to Stalin; aimed to ease tensions regarding Berlin.

• Kitchen Debate: Nixon and Khrushchev debated capitalism vs communism, reflecting the ideological struggle.

• U2 Incident: 1960 spy plane shot down over Soviet territory escalated Cold War tensions and derailed the Paris Peace Conference.

Page 5: The Affluent Society and Culture of the 1950s

Page 6: Economic and Social Policies

Page 7: Modern Republicanism

Overview

• Definition: Blending traditional Republican values with New Deal principles.

• Initial Policies: Included cutting farm subsidies, reducing government staff, and budget balancing.

1954 Mid-Term Elections

• Outcome: Democrats gained control of both houses of Congress.

• Post-Election Policies:

  • Increased minimum wage to $1 per hour.

  • Enhanced social security benefits.

  • Initiated significant public works projects, notably the Interstate Highway Act of 1956:

    • Established 41,000 miles of roads at a $25 billion cost.

    • Led to growth in suburbs and automobile usage, but increased pollution and urban decay.

Civil Rights Developments

• Earl Warren: Appointed to Supreme Court by Eisenhower; became unexpectedly liberal.

  • Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Declared segregation in schools unconstitutional, galvanizing the desegregation movement.

    • Little Rock Nine: Federal intervention required to enforce desegregation in Arkansas, leading to significant civil rights advances.

Page 10: Continued Civil Rights Movement

Rosa Parks and the Bus Boycott

• Incident: Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat led to a citywide bus boycott, organized by Martin Luther King Jr.

  • Supreme Court Ruling: January 1956 ruling declared segregation on buses unlawful.

Space Race

• Sputnik Launch: USSR's first satellite puzzled and frightened the U.S., leading to speculation of nuclear capability.

• NDEA and NASA: Initiatives were established to bolster education in science and tech, marking the U.S. response to Soviet advancements.

Page 11: Ike's Farewell Address

Military-Industrial Complex

• Warning: Eisenhower cautioned against the growing influence of the military-industrial complex in his farewell address, reflecting concerns over the intertwining of defense and economic priorities.