The Eisenhower Years Election of 1952 Republicans want

The Eisenhower Years

Election of 1952 Republicans want to gain control of the White House Democrats had been in control for 20 years Republicans want to run against Korea, communism and corruption Speculation during the Truman administration that some of his officials accepted bribes

Eisenhower Republicans nominate Eisenhower Democrats nominate Adlai Stevenson Chose Richard Nixon as his running mate What do we know thus far about Nixon? Campaign Slogan: “It’s time for Change” Wanted to end Korean conflict/corruption Political saying: I Like Ike! Campaign Controversy Nixon accused of accepting $18, 000 in gifts from businessmen Nixon addresses the nation in a radio broadcast Says he used the funds for political reasons Except one gift: a cocker spaniel Checkers Known as the Checkers Speech "The Man from Abilene" (Eisenhower, 1952) "Never Had It So Good" (Eisenhower, 1952) http: //www. livingroomcandidate. org/commercials/1952/the-manfrom-abilene

Election of 1952

The Eisenhower Presidency The Bricker Amendment Proposed by John Bricker Angry over secret agreements at Yalta, wants to limit presidential power Senate would have to ratify all decisions of the President with other nations Defeated by one vote Eisenhower suffers a heart attack in 1956 His bad health will have Congress examine the question of presidential succession What would happen if the president stayed ill, and was unable to lead? VP would fill in, but the Constitution does not say who decides whether or not the VP would have to take over 1967, ratify the Constitution with a provision that would outline presidential disability 25 th Amendment

Eisenhower Presidency Wins the 1956 election Congress is controlled by the Democrats During his presidency, he tries to limit the control of the government Does cut budget, reduces taxes, end gov’t regulation of business What will Eisenhower do w/New Deal policies America will see a rise in the economic sector Increase in credit Increase in technology Suburban lifestyles Women roles Baby boomers Birth rate increases from 1945 -1961

Eisenhower and Foreign Policy Wants to contain communism Especially in Asia and Africa Want to increase the number of Allies US has larger role in NATO Creates SEATO SE Asian Treaty Organization Creates CENTO Central Treaty Organization (organization of nations in the Middle East) OAS Organization of American States All created to offset the spread of Communism Helpful to Eisenhower and his foreign policy was John Dulles thought containment wasn’t strong or forceful enough Believed in MASSIVE RETALIATION All or nothing Keep Soviet attack at bay by threatening to use nuclear weapons If the Soviet attacked, US would launch weapons Eisenhower, afraid of an all out nuclear war, continues with containment

Foreign Policy in Asia After Korea, another conflict Dulles wants to send troops No support from Congress emerges Eisenhower stays out of the conflict Ho Chi Minh Communist in Vietnam Vietminh Heads the push for independence from France US stays out of conflict, but supplies France with weapons/supplies Dien Bien Phu falls in 1954 French withdraw from Indochina Geneva Conference 1954, Vietnam divided on 17 th parallel North of line Ho Chi Minh and communists in control South of line, government supported by the US is established Many oppose Diem’s leadership in the south

Iran and Guatemala Iranian PM takes control of the Guatemala Anglo-American Oil Co. Helped remove another govt official Eisenhower worried of Iranian. Soviet Alliance Colonel Jacobo Guzman Could endanger US supplies of Receiving weapons from communist states oil Seizes control of an American owned fruit company Eisenhower helps fund a revolt Afraid communism would spread to Will later sign agreement Central America allowing the US to have a part Organizes and funds a coup in oil production

Third World Neutrality Nations from Africa and Asia get together Want to remain free from the influence of the First World (the West) and the Second (the Soviet) Want to remain neutral

Conflict in the Middle East 1950 s US involved with Middle Arabs believe Israel was created on land that belonged to the Palestinians Eastern affairs Tension grows in the region What resource is the US 1956: Egyptian PM Nasser wants to take control of the Jewish state dependent upon? Signs a treaty with the Soviet to get Want to protect those interests weapons for cotton US also interested in Israel US tries to win Egyptian favor by offering to give money for the funding 1948, a Jewish homeland had been of a dam on the Nile created Relations w/China/Soviet causes the US to back out Nasser takes the Suez Canal

Why the Suez? Trade Link btw Europe, Asia and Middle East British French, and Israeli troops attack w/o support of US At meeting of the UN, US votes WITH Soviet, condemning actions Forces them to withdraw from Egypt US looks weak

After the Suez Eisenhower worried about Soviet influence Soviet offers money to Egypt to build the dam Eisenhower Doctrine Gave authority for president to use military to assist nations in the M. E. from communist states Ex: Lebanon asks for help in defending themselves from Nasser & the Soviet Thought they were going to invade US sends troops to oversee the installation of a new gov; t Shows US dedication in M. E.

The Cold War Thaws? 1953 Stalin dies Replaced by Nikita Khrushchev saw Stalin as a tyrant Soviets seek a peaceful existence with the West 1955: meet at Geneva w/France, GB Motions for disarmament Relations not strong for long Disagreements erupt over Berlin Soviet threatens to cut them off from the West unless the East German gov’t was recognized

The Cold War Thaws? 1959 Khrushchev/Nixon visits Kitchen Debate: July 1959 Debate by the world leaders regarding communism v. capitalism Meet at Camp David to plan a second summit meeting Peace lasts only so long http: //video. google. com/videosearch? gbv=2&hl=en&q=Kitchen%20 Debates&u m=1&ie=UTF 8&sa=N&tab=wv#q=Kitchen%20 Debate&hl=en&sitesearch=video. google. com

U-2 Spy Plane May 1960 Soviet shoots down a U-2 surveillance plane over the Soviet US sent the plane to photograph nuclear sites/missile facilities Khrushchev refuses to attend the second summit Cold War is back on