Eisenhower & The Cold War

Dwight Eisenhower 1890 – 1969 (life) 1890 – 1969 (life) 1953 – 1961 (President) 1953 – 1961 (President) Nicknamed “Ike” Nicknamed “Ike” Highly popular due to his efficient military leadership during WWII Highly popular due to his efficient military leadership during WWII Staunchly anti-communist, but also dedicated to scaling back military spending Staunchly anti-communist, but also dedicated to scaling back military spending Chose to focus on a build up of nuclear weapons as a cheaper way to deter communist aggression Chose to focus on a build up of nuclear weapons as a cheaper way to deter communist aggression

Nuclear Holocaust? After the Soviets acquired the atomic bomb, Americans became highly paranoid about the potential for a nuclear attack against the US After the Soviets acquired the atomic bomb, Americans became highly paranoid about the potential for a nuclear attack against the US

Fallout Shelters Many families constructed special underground bunkers which they stocked with food, water, and other essentials in case of an attack Many families constructed special underground bunkers which they stocked with food, water, and other essentials in case of an attack Cities also designated subway tunnels and other reinforced underground structures as public shelters Cities also designated subway tunnels and other reinforced underground structures as public shelters

“Duck and Cover” Students were taught to “duck and cover” in the event of a surprise attack through training films and special drills Students were taught to “duck and cover” in the event of a surprise attack through training films and special drills While such efforts reassured the public, in reality they offered little, if any, real protection in the event of an actual nuclear attack While such efforts reassured the public, in reality they offered little, if any, real protection in the event of an actual nuclear attack

Nuclear Arms Race Soviets and Americans rapidly built enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world many times over “MAD” (Mutually Assured Destruction) was the theory that the more nuclear weapons both sides had, the safer the world was because it made a nuclear war unwinnable for both sides

Brinksmanship Term originally coined by Eisenhower’s Sec. of State John Foster Dulles Term originally coined by Eisenhower’s Sec. of State John Foster Dulles Brinksmanship is the practice of escalating international tensions to the brink of war, with the hope that the other side will back down at the last minute and thereby give you an advantage in future negotiations Brinksmanship is the practice of escalating international tensions to the brink of war, with the hope that the other side will back down at the last minute and thereby give you an advantage in future negotiations

Domino Theory Eisenhower believed strongly in the idea that if you let even a single nation fall to communism, then you would set off a chain reaction where its neighbors would also fall to communism (like dominos)

CIA Interventions Iran: Ike allowed CIA to stage a coup to remove a Prime Minister who was willing to sell Iranian oil to the Soviets Iran: Ike allowed CIA to stage a coup to remove a Prime Minister who was willing to sell Iranian oil to the Soviets Guatemala: Ike allowed CIA to train opposition rebels to overthrow a pro- communist regime Guatemala: Ike allowed CIA to train opposition rebels to overthrow a pro- communist regime

Communism in Cuba Many US business held large investments in Cuba during the 1950s, but those investments were jeopardized when Cuba’s government was overthrown by communist rebels under the leadership of Fidel Castro US leadership were equally alarmed by the seizure of over $1 billion worth of property in Cuba owned by Americans as they were by suddenly having a communist state 90 miles off the US coast

Eisenhower Doctrine In 1957, Eisenhower pledged US assistance to any nation in the Middle East which found itself threatened by communism Almost immediately, US forces were sent to Lebanon to help that government combat communist rebels

Suez Crisis The US withdrew financial support from an Egyptian dam project over Egyptian weapons purchases that threatened Israel The US withdrew financial support from an Egyptian dam project over Egyptian weapons purchases that threatened Israel Egypt confiscated the Suez Canal from French and British investors in order to raise funds for the dam Egypt confiscated the Suez Canal from French and British investors in order to raise funds for the dam Britain and France invaded Egypt to retake the canal, leading the Soviets (who saw an opportunity to win Egypt as an ally) to threaten war Britain and France invaded Egypt to retake the canal, leading the Soviets (who saw an opportunity to win Egypt as an ally) to threaten war Eisenhower forced Britain and France to withdraw, but the damage was already done - many Arab states now saw the West as an aggressor and aligned themselves with the Soviets Eisenhower forced Britain and France to withdraw, but the damage was already done - many Arab states now saw the West as an aggressor and aligned themselves with the Soviets

Nikita Khrushchev 1894 – 1971 (life) 1894 – 1971 (life) 1953 – 64 (Soviet leader) 1953 – 64 (Soviet leader) Named head of the Soviet Union after the death of Stalin in 1953 Named head of the Soviet Union after the death of Stalin in 1953 More liberal than Stalin in Soviet domestic issues, but more confrontational in foreign policy, pushing the Soviet Union to the brink of war with the US on several occasions More liberal than Stalin in Soviet domestic issues, but more confrontational in foreign policy, pushing the Soviet Union to the brink of war with the US on several occasions

The U-2 Incident 1960 Just weeks before a major peace summit, the Soviets shot down an American U-2 spy plane over their airspace and captured the pilot, Francis Gary Powers Marked a turning point in US- Soviet relations, as the peace summit was cancelled and the American pilot was tried as a spy and sentenced to prison (the Soviets later traded him back to the US for one of their own spies)

Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 Authorized the spending of $25 billion in federal funds to build 41,000 miles of highways over a period of 20 years Authorized the spending of $25 billion in federal funds to build 41,000 miles of highways over a period of 20 years Interstate highways were built in order to allow the speedy movement of troops and supplies around the country in case of invasion or other national emergency Interstate highways were built in order to allow the speedy movement of troops and supplies around the country in case of invasion or other national emergency

The Space Race Both the US and USSR had captured German rocket scientists at the end of WWII and were pursuing missile technologies Both the US and USSR had captured German rocket scientists at the end of WWII and were pursuing missile technologies Starting in 1957, these technologies were used to compete against each other for control of outer space – a multi-billion dollar “space race” to see who could accomplish certain objectives or discoveries first Starting in 1957, these technologies were used to compete against each other for control of outer space – a multi-billion dollar “space race” to see who could accomplish certain objectives or discoveries first

ICBMs Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles The development of missile technologies allowed both sides to mount atomic warheads onto long- range rockets which could be launched against distant targets The development of missile technologies allowed both sides to mount atomic warheads onto long- range rockets which could be launched against distant targets

Sputnik The first man-made object to attain orbit around the earth (satellite) The first man-made object to attain orbit around the earth (satellite) Sputnik I launched by the Soviets in Oct. 1957, followed by Sputnik II (which carried the first living creature into space, a dog named Laika) in November Sputnik I launched by the Soviets in Oct. 1957, followed by Sputnik II (which carried the first living creature into space, a dog named Laika) in November These launches triggered a panic in the US, as Americans worried that the Soviets were gaining a technological advantage over the US These launches triggered a panic in the US, as Americans worried that the Soviets were gaining a technological advantage over the US

National Defense Education Act of 1958 Law which provided for dramatically increased spending on education, especially in science, math, and foreign languages Law which provided for dramatically increased spending on education, especially in science, math, and foreign languages Passed in response to the belief that the US was falling behind the Soviets in scientific and technological fields Passed in response to the belief that the US was falling behind the Soviets in scientific and technological fields Increased the number of high-school graduates who went on to college from less than 15% in 1950 to over 40% by 1970 Increased the number of high-school graduates who went on to college from less than 15% in 1950 to over 40% by 1970

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Aeronautics and Space Administration Created in 1958 Created in 1958 Civilian agency which was created to take over space exploration programs from the various military branches to increase coordination and efficiency Civilian agency which was created to take over space exploration programs from the various military branches to increase coordination and efficiency