LEP Chapter 28

Foreign Policy, 1953-1960

Overview

  • The U.S. strategy for containing communism began to shift during the 1950s, moving from direct confrontations with the Soviet Union to more covert actions and diplomacy, particularly in the Third World.

  • The period was characterized by significant geopolitical events, treaties, and shifts in military strategy.

Key Events Timeline

  • 1953: End of the Korean War, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg executed, Playboy magazine debuts.

  • 1954: Joseph McCarthy censured, Communist Control Act passed, Brown v. Board of Education decision issued, SEATO formed.

  • 1955: Montgomery bus boycott begins, Anti-Soviet uprisings in Poland and Hungary.

  • 1956: U.S. deals with Suez Crisis, Eisenhower reelected, Hungarian Revolution crushed.

  • 1957-1960: Significant events related to civil rights, space race, and the rise of tensions, including Sputnik launch and Bay of Pigs invasion.

Eisenhower's Administration

  • Personality and Strategy:

    • Eisenhower adopted a moderate approach, preferring indirect confrontation over direct conflict, which was reflected in his "hidden hand presidency."

    • He often delegated to capable subordinates like Secretary of State John Foster Dulles.

  • Nuclear Policy:

    • Emphasis on "massive retaliation" and nuclear deterrence to counter Soviet expansion, with threats of nuclear action in response to aggression.

    • Increased focus on developing new aerial surveillance capabilities (e.g., U-2 spy planes).

  • Cultural Diplomacy:

    • The significance of jazz as cultural diplomacy via Willis Conover’s programs, promoting American values abroad and fostering dissent against authoritarian regimes.

Covert Operations and Economic Strategies

  • Covert Actions: The CIA was active in several countries, facilitating coups and supporting authoritarian regimes that opposed communism, such as:

    • 1953 coup in Iran ousting Mohammed Mossadegh, restoring Shah Reza Pahlavi.

    • 1954 coup in Guatemala against Jacobo Arbenz, providing a template for U.S. intervention in Latin America.

  • Economic Pressure: Eisenhower’s administration favored military aid and strategic economic partnerships with Third World nations, often supporting regimes opposed to communism while promoting U.S. economic interests.

Latin America

  • U.S. strategies shifted towards supporting authoritarian regimes to contain perceived communist threats, epitomized by the backing of Fulgencio Batista in Cuba.

  • The rise of Fidel Castro and his shift toward socialism prompted an economic boycott by the U.S.

Southeast Asia and the Middle East

  • Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) established in 1954 to counter communism in Asia.

  • Middle East Policy: Distrust of nationalism led to a cancellation of U.S. aid for Nasser’s Aswan Dam project, increasing tensions with Egypt and fostering hostile sentiments towards U.S. influence.

Conclusion

  • Eisenhower’s foreign policy was nuanced, relying on a blend of military, economic, and cultural strategies to confront communism while navigating the challenges associated with emerging nationalisms and anti-U.S. sentiments globally.