President Dwight D. Eisenhower & the Cold War

Soviet Union & United States The Arms Race: Soviet Union & United States The U.S. & Soviet Union began stock piling nuclear and nonnuclear weapons. In 1949, the Soviets exploded an atomic bomb. Both nations rushed to developed missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

Space Race: Sputnik In 1957, the Soviets launched a satellite, Sputnik, into orbit around the earth. The arms race now became a space race as the U.S. rushed to launch their own satellites and compete with the Soviet Union.

Brinkmanship & Massive Retaliation President Eisenhower & Secretary of State John Foster Dulles continued Truman’s policy of containment, but introduced new ideas. Massive Retaliation: meant that the U.S. would consider the use of nuclear weapons to halt aggression if it believed the nation’s interests were threatened. Brinkmanship: the belief that the nation must be ready to go “to the brink of war” in order to preserve world peace. The U.S. would also rely more heavily on air power and nuclear weapons rather than ground troops.

Eisenhower: Foreign Policy in Asia Communist victory in China in 1949 and the Korean War raised fears of further communist expansion. Domino Theory: The belief that the nations of Asia were like a row of “dominos.” If one fell to communism then they all would. SEATO: The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (to mirror NATO) was created to meet any “common danger” from communist aggression.

Foreign Policy in the Middle East Iran: The U.S. helped overthrow the prime minister to help secure their supply of oil (more problems would come later).  Egypt: When the Egyptian president became friendly with the Soviet Union, the U.S. withdrew its support. Egypt then nationalized the canal which was under control of the British and French. When the two countries sent troops to seize the canal, the U.N. pressured the nations to back down. Britain and France withdrew and canal remained under Egyptian control. Congress adopted the Eisenhower Doctrine, the U.S. pledged to help any Middle Eastern country resist communism. The doctrine was “tested” by sending marines to Lebanon to restore political calm.

Changing Relations with the Soviet Union Tensions between the U.S. and Soviet Union rose and fell during the Eisenhower years. Soviet Leader Joseph Stalin died 1953: Nikita Khrushchev replaced him and tensions eased as the Soviets focused on improving conditions within their nation. Peaceful co-existence: Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, the superpowers began talks on disarmament, that in time led to suspension of nuclear testing. Camp David: Khrushchev visited the U.S. and held lengthy talks with President Eisenhower.

U-2 Spy Incident (1960) The Soviet military shot down an American U-2 aircraft deep in Soviet territory. The pilot, Col. Francis Gary Powers, admitted that he had been spying on Soviet military bases. Eisenhower said he approved the U-2 flights and promised to suspend them. Khrushchev denounced the U.S. and demanded an apology. Eisenhower refused.

U-2 Spy Incident (1960)

Eisenhower: Domestic Policy President Eisenhower disliked strong centralized government, cut back on size and power of the federal government, and reduced spending for defense and foreign aid. Passage of the Federal Highway Act (1956) to fund 44,000 miles of interstate highways.

1950s: “Eisenhower Prosperity” postwar “baby boom” and growth of families Decline of cities, suburbanization and the growth of Levittowns; rapid increase in home building. By 1960s, 1/3 of Americans live in suburbs increased consumer spending and demand for automobiles migration from Northeast to the Sunbelt (states of south and west- including California, Arizona, Texas, & Florida) National broadcasting began in 1946 making television the leading form of entertainment.