Eisenhower’s Domestic Policies

Dwight D. Eisenhower 1890 – – th President ( ) 34 th President ( ) Republican Republican Went by “Ike” Went by “Ike” Hero of WWII, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe, Organized the D-Day Invasion Hero of WWII, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe, Organized the D-Day Invasion Had never held an elected office before becoming president Had never held an elected office before becoming president

“Dynamic Conservatism” Eisenhower attempted to be conservative with government spending while still supporting dynamic programs designed to help the poor Eisenhower attempted to be conservative with government spending while still supporting dynamic programs designed to help the poor Ike curtailed military spending by building more nuclear weapons (He called them “more bang for the buck”) Ike curtailed military spending by building more nuclear weapons (He called them “more bang for the buck”) Extended many of FDR’s New Deal programs to help the disadvantaged Extended many of FDR’s New Deal programs to help the disadvantaged

The Warren Court Eisenhower appointed Earl Warren as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1953 Eisenhower appointed Earl Warren as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1953 Warren would remain the head of the Court until his retirement in 1969 Warren would remain the head of the Court until his retirement in 1969 The Warren Court would hand down some of the most important decisions of the 20 th Century (See “The Warren Court” Handout) The Warren Court would hand down some of the most important decisions of the 20 th Century (See “The Warren Court” Handout)

Brown v Board of Education of Topeka, KS Supreme Court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, rejecting the idea that racially segregated schools could offer equal services Supreme Court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, rejecting the idea that racially segregated schools could offer equal services Court ordered the desegregation of public schools “with all deliberate speed” Court ordered the desegregation of public schools “with all deliberate speed”

Thurgood Marshall 1908 – – 1993 Brown v BOE decision vaulted Marshall to the forefront of civil rights lawyers Brown v BOE decision vaulted Marshall to the forefront of civil rights lawyers Marshall had been Chief Counsel for the NAACP since the 1940s, until being appointed as federal judge in 1961, and eventually became the first African- American on the Supreme Court in 1967 Marshall had been Chief Counsel for the NAACP since the 1940s, until being appointed as federal judge in 1961, and eventually became the first African- American on the Supreme Court in 1967

Southern Manifesto The Brown decision angered many white Southerners and in 1956, over 100 Southern members of Congress signed the “Southern Manifesto” declaring the Court’s decision to be “abuse of judicial power” and pledging to support segregation through every legal avenue available The Brown decision angered many white Southerners and in 1956, over 100 Southern members of Congress signed the “Southern Manifesto” declaring the Court’s decision to be “abuse of judicial power” and pledging to support segregation through every legal avenue available

Rosa Parks 1913 – – 2005 Civil rights activist even before her famous refusal to give up her bus seat on Dec. 1, 1955 Civil rights activist even before her famous refusal to give up her bus seat on Dec. 1, 1955 Parks was arrested for violating the city of Birmingham, AL segregation laws which required that blacks surrender their seats if necessary to accommodate white passengers Parks was arrested for violating the city of Birmingham, AL segregation laws which required that blacks surrender their seats if necessary to accommodate white passengers

Montgomery Bus Boycott In response to Parks’ arrest, black leaders organized a boycott of the Birmingham public transportation system In response to Parks’ arrest, black leaders organized a boycott of the Birmingham public transportation system Over 75% of the bus system’s riders were black, so the boycott seriously damaged revenues Over 75% of the bus system’s riders were black, so the boycott seriously damaged revenues The boycott lasted for over a year, until Parks’ case was resolved when the Supreme Court declared the Birmingham segregation law unconstitutional The boycott lasted for over a year, until Parks’ case was resolved when the Supreme Court declared the Birmingham segregation law unconstitutional

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr – – 1968 As a young minister, King was chosen to organize the Birmingham bus boycott and chose to do so using only non-violent means of protest As a young minister, King was chosen to organize the Birmingham bus boycott and chose to do so using only non-violent means of protest The success of the boycott propelled him and his technique of “civil disobedience” to national fame The success of the boycott propelled him and his technique of “civil disobedience” to national fame

Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Created in 1957 Created in 1957 Civil rights organization composed of mainly Southern African- American ministers which worked to end segregation and to encourage blacks to register to vote Civil rights organization composed of mainly Southern African- American ministers which worked to end segregation and to encourage blacks to register to vote First president was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. First president was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Eisenhower’s Reaction President Eisenhower supported civil rights, but believed that racism and segregation would have to end gradually, stating “I don’t believe you can change the hearts of men with laws or [court] decisions” President Eisenhower supported civil rights, but believed that racism and segregation would have to end gradually, stating “I don’t believe you can change the hearts of men with laws or [court] decisions” Still, once the Supreme Court ordered schools desegregated, Eisenhower felt obligated as President to enforce that decision Still, once the Supreme Court ordered schools desegregated, Eisenhower felt obligated as President to enforce that decision

The Little Rock Nine Sept Sept Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus ordered the National Guard to block 9 black students from enrolling at the all- white Little Rock Central High School and later simply relied on white mobs to intimidate the students Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus ordered the National Guard to block 9 black students from enrolling at the all- white Little Rock Central High School and later simply relied on white mobs to intimidate the students Eisenhower ordered the US Army to protect the black students, sending 1000 soldiers to encircle the school and allow the students to register; the soldiers stayed for the rest of the school year Eisenhower ordered the US Army to protect the black students, sending 1000 soldiers to encircle the school and allow the students to register; the soldiers stayed for the rest of the school year

Civil Rights Act of 1957 Designed to protect black’s right to vote Designed to protect black’s right to vote Created a civil rights division within the Dept. of Justice and the US Commission on Civil Rights to investigate and prosecute allegations of voting violations Created a civil rights division within the Dept. of Justice and the US Commission on Civil Rights to investigate and prosecute allegations of voting violations

Greensboro Sit-in Feb Feb students at NC A&T in Greensboro, NC sat down at the racially segregated lunch counter at Woolworth’s and demanded service, refusing to leave when they were denied; over the next few days, the number of students involved grew and the sit-ins spread throughout the state, gaining national attention 4 students at NC A&T in Greensboro, NC sat down at the racially segregated lunch counter at Woolworth’s and demanded service, refusing to leave when they were denied; over the next few days, the number of students involved grew and the sit-ins spread throughout the state, gaining national attention By summer, Woolworth’s relented and desegregated their lunch counters By summer, Woolworth’s relented and desegregated their lunch counters

Jesse Jackson 1941 – Present 1941 – Present Student at NC A&T who was inspired by the sit-ins and went on to become a major, if often controversial, civil rights leader and later candidate for President in the 1980s Student at NC A&T who was inspired by the sit-ins and went on to become a major, if often controversial, civil rights leader and later candidate for President in the 1980s

Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Executive director of the SCLC, Ella Baker, held a convention at Shaw University in April 1960 to help students organize themselves into the SNCC, a student-led civil rights organization dedicated to continuing the successes of non-violent protest and to encouraging rural Southern blacks to register to vote Executive director of the SCLC, Ella Baker, held a convention at Shaw University in April 1960 to help students organize themselves into the SNCC, a student-led civil rights organization dedicated to continuing the successes of non-violent protest and to encouraging rural Southern blacks to register to vote In 1964, 3 SNCC members were murdered in Mississippi while attempting to register black voters In 1964, 3 SNCC members were murdered in Mississippi while attempting to register black voters

Television Introduced just before WWII, by 1957, over 40 million televisions were in use in the US Introduced just before WWII, by 1957, over 40 million televisions were in use in the US TV quickly became Americans’ primary means of receiving information, whether it was the news, the latest fads and fashions, or what new products were available for purchase TV quickly became Americans’ primary means of receiving information, whether it was the news, the latest fads and fashions, or what new products were available for purchase

“I Love Lucy”

“The Honeymooners”

“Gunsmoke”

Live Sporting Events

Game Shows

Variety Shows

Movies Facing the stiff competition from television, Hollywood was forced to adapt Facing the stiff competition from television, Hollywood was forced to adapt Introduced 3-D movies in the 1952 Introduced 3-D movies in the 1952 Introduced Cinemascope (a special projection system which required a large, curved screen) to make the movie-going experience “grander” than watching TV Introduced Cinemascope (a special projection system which required a large, curved screen) to make the movie-going experience “grander” than watching TV

Rock-n-roll Bill Haley and the Comets are usually credited with having the first #1 rock hit with “Rock Around the Clock” in 1955 Bill Haley and the Comets are usually credited with having the first #1 rock hit with “Rock Around the Clock” in 1955 Rock-n-roll originated as a fusion of African-American based Rhythm & Blues with jazz and country music influences Rock-n-roll originated as a fusion of African-American based Rhythm & Blues with jazz and country music influences The sound caught on with teens, but was widely considered “immoral” and too sexual by the older generation The sound caught on with teens, but was widely considered “immoral” and too sexual by the older generation

Elvis Presley 1935 – – 1977 “The King of Rock and Roll” “The King of Rock and Roll” Had his first major hit record, “Heartbreak Hotel,” and film “Love Me Tender” in 1956 Had his first major hit record, “Heartbreak Hotel,” and film “Love Me Tender” in 1956 Recorded over 100 Top 40 hits in his 20 year career before dying of drug-related heart failure Recorded over 100 Top 40 hits in his 20 year career before dying of drug-related heart failure

The Beat Generation Group of writers who criticized the meaningless conformity of American life in the 1950s and encouraged young people to experience new artistic forms, and engage ain experimentation with drugs and sex Group of writers who criticized the meaningless conformity of American life in the 1950s and encouraged young people to experience new artistic forms, and engage ain experimentation with drugs and sex Needless to say, they were considered shocking and obscene to mainstream American society Needless to say, they were considered shocking and obscene to mainstream American society

Allen Ginsberg 1926 – – 1997 Poet; most famous work is Howl Poet; most famous work is Howl Shocked readers with his depictions of homosexual acts and drug use Shocked readers with his depictions of homosexual acts and drug use Ginsberg was essentially everything that mainstream America was not – a bisexual, communist Buddhist who endorsed the use of LSD and marijuana Ginsberg was essentially everything that mainstream America was not – a bisexual, communist Buddhist who endorsed the use of LSD and marijuana

Jack Kerouac 1922 – – 1969 Wrote on a wide variety of topics, often spontaneously deciding what his next topic would be Wrote on a wide variety of topics, often spontaneously deciding what his next topic would be A writer of many personal contradictions – he was Catholic and anti-communist, but freely used marijuana and supported homosexuals and other marginalized minorities A writer of many personal contradictions – he was Catholic and anti-communist, but freely used marijuana and supported homosexuals and other marginalized minorities Most famous work is the novel On the Road Most famous work is the novel On the Road Died from complications from alcoholism Died from complications from alcoholism

Alaska & Hawaii In 1959, Eisenhower oversaw the admission of Alaska and Hawaii as the 49 th and 50 th states in the Union In 1959, Eisenhower oversaw the admission of Alaska and Hawaii as the 49 th and 50 th states in the Union

The Military-Industrial Complex In Eisenhower’s Farewell Address, he warned against unchecked military spending, stating “we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex” In Eisenhower’s Farewell Address, he warned against unchecked military spending, stating “we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex” Essentially, Eisenhower was warning that defense contractors were becoming too friendly with the military high command, creating a conflict of interest where their profits were more important than what was in the best interests of the nation Essentially, Eisenhower was warning that defense contractors were becoming too friendly with the military high command, creating a conflict of interest where their profits were more important than what was in the best interests of the nation

Election of 1960 Republicans nominated Eisenhower’s Vice- President, Richard Nixon Republicans nominated Eisenhower’s Vice- President, Richard Nixon Democrats nominated Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy Democrats nominated Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy Election featured the first televised presidential debates and it was the first time television was used as a serious campaign tool Election featured the first televised presidential debates and it was the first time television was used as a serious campaign tool Kennedy won in a tight election, in some ways due to his better manipulation of television Kennedy won in a tight election, in some ways due to his better manipulation of television