The Eisenhower Era

Adlai Stevenson was nominated for the Democrats, but was hurt by Korean stalemate & Truman’s clash with McArthur. Nixon was Ike’s running mate – accused of taking bribes & gave the “Checker” speech. Ike used TV campaign ads for first time said, “I will go to Korea.” Ike won by a landslide, and the Republicans also took both houses of Congress.

Keeping his campaign pledge, Ike went to Korea for three days in December, Seven months later, Ike threatened to use nuclear weapons and a truce was finally signed. 54,000 Americans were dead; one million Chinese and Koreans were dead. Korea was divided at the 38 th Parallel.

1954: Brown v. Board of Education: “separate but equal is inherently unequal.” 100 (+) southern congressmen and senators signed a “Declaration of Constitutional Principles” in 1954 as a pledge to fight against integration. White councils were created in the South 1957: Gov. Faubus of Arkansas, mobilized National Guard to prevent 9 students from integration Little Rock High School. Ike, personally against integration, sent 1, 000 US paratroopers in to enforce the law.

“Dynamic Conservativism”: Ike promised to balance the budget to ward off “creeping socialism.” Operation Wetback: one million illegals returned to Mexico Ike’s congress made Social Security and unemployment insurance permanent Interstate Highway Act: $27 billion for highways. Ike balanced budget 3 of 8 years in office.

Ike tried to negotiate with Khrushchev, but failed. (Stalin died in 1953.) SAC: Strategic Air Command – super bombers that carried nuclear weapons Hungarian Revolution, 1956: US failed to support Hungary in their independence attempt from the USSR By 1954, US was financing 80% of French War in Indochine (Vietnam) 1954: Dien Bien Phu/ French defeated; Vietnam divided at 17 th Parallel; Ho Chi Minh in North, President Diem in South

1957: Launch of Sputnik: Soviet satellite Americans get “rocket fever.” NASA created and the education system is revamped: “square roots, not square dancing!” “Rocket science, not Rock n Roll!”

Ike’s critics said, “Eight years of golfing.” The Twenty- second Amendment was ratified in 1951 that prevented a president from serving more than two terms. Ike’s administration oversaw an overall prosperous time, but he failed in completion of civil rights. Ike showed restraint in foreign policy. 1956: Suez Crisis: GB, France, Israel attacked Egypt. 1959: Castro took over Cuba January 17, 1961: Ike warned against the power of the military industrial complex.