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Eisenhower: 1953-1961

Eisenhower: 1953-1961. Libertyville HS. Election of 1952. Truman decided not to run Dems nominated IL governor, Adlai Stevenson Intellectual; orator GOP nominated Dwight D. Eisenhower WWII general; very popular “Korea, Communism, Corruption” Issues Korean War “Red Scare” (McCarthyism).

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Eisenhower: 1953-1961

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  1. Eisenhower: 1953-1961 Libertyville HS

  2. Election of 1952 • Truman decided not to run • Dems nominated IL governor, Adlai Stevenson • Intellectual; orator • GOP nominated Dwight D. Eisenhower • WWII general; very popular • “Korea, Communism, Corruption” • Issues • Korean War • “Red Scare” (McCarthyism) Results Eisenhower: 442 ECV / 34 million Stevenson: 89 ECV / 27 million

  3. Red Scare of the 50s • Reflected America’s concern with int’l Communism • Sen. Joe McCarthy (R-WI) • 1950 “Wheeling Speech” (205 names, State Dept.) • 1950 Tydings Committee: D attempt to discredit McCarthy • McCarthy campaigned for Rs in 1952 elections: They all won

  4. Senate Hearings, 1953-54 • McCarthy pursued communists throughout gov’t, real or perceived • Style: aggressive questioning, rumor, innuendo • VOA, US Info. Agency • McCarthy went after the US Army! • Led to his downfall • Browbeating WWII veterans • McCarthy censured, 1954 Sen. Ralph Flanders, R-Maine

  5. House Unamerican Activities Committee (1934-1975) • 1934-38: fought Nazi propaganda in US • 1938-44: German-Americans and KKK activity • 1945-75: investigate “subversion of the constitution”

  6. House Unamerican Activities Committee (1934-1975) • Hollywood Blacklist • If you refused to answer qs, you couldn’t work for studios • 300 directors, writers, actors blacklisted • HUAC lost prestige in post-McCarthy America and in 1960s

  7. Dwight D. Eisenhower • Born in Texas; West Point graduate • Deputy to MacArthur during Bonus Army march • WWII: became supreme commander in Europe • Diplomatic w/ allies • Excellent administrator • Kept his politics secret, esp. after army retirement • Never held political office

  8. Eisenhower: “The Middle Way” • Determined to reverse US policy trend of great federal involvement in states, localities, & lives of citizens • BUT not junking all programs • Continued New Deal programs like social security, NLRA, UI • Created the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to manage welfare programs • Emphasized a balanced budget (‘56-57; next=Clinton)

  9. 1950s American Economy • Post War fears unfounded • Surge in industries • Housing (new houses built) • Automobiles (new autos built) • New industries • Aviation • Electronics • Cold War boosted economy, too • Federal defense spending • Low tariffs = high trade • Per capita GDP = #1 in world; inflation 1%

  10. Eisenhower: Foreign Affairs • Personally visited Korea to end war, 1953 • Hydrogen bomb developed by US, USSR led to Geneva meeting in 1955 • Ike: let’s exchange blueprints of each other’s military bases • USSR: no response (but relations improved)

  11. Ike: Interstate Highway System • Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 • Inspired by German autobahns • Military purpose • Civilian purpose: economic • Funded 90/10 by Feds, but administered by states • 46,876 miles = largest highway system in world and largest public works project in history

  12. Election of 1956 • GOP nominee: Ike • Dem nominee: Adlai Stevenson • Campaign issues • Ike’s health (heart condition) • Stevenson supported by liberal Dems (& southerners) – and that’s it • Ike’s slogan: I Like Ike! • Korean war done, nation prosperous: result never in doubt Results Eisenhower: 457 ECV / 35.5 million Stevenson: 73 ECV / 26 million

  13. Ike: Foreign Affairs • 1956: Year of turmoil • Hungarian revolution: encouraged by RFE, Hungarians revolted against USSR; US did not support them & thousands died • Suez crisis • US, UK refused to support Egypt for construction of dam • Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal • Brits, French, Israelis capture canal W/O US approval

  14. Ike’s Response • Forced a cease fire on all parties • Ike threatened to sell off British bonds (destroy British economy) • Started oil embargo vs Brits, France • PM Eden forced out; replaced by UN peacekeepers (there until 1967)

  15. Eisenhower Doctrine • US became protector of western interests in Middle East • Ike Doctrine: US would be “prepared to use armed force to counter aggression from any (communist) country” that attacked Middle East • Ex: 15k troops to Lebanon, 1958

  16. Ike’s Farewell Address Warned against what is now known as “the military-industrial complex”

  17. Ike’s Legacy • Expanded containment policy • Robust US presence on international scene • Reigned in Federal spending • Helped create conditions for economic expansion • Continued desegregation and advancement of civil rights

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