The Eisenhower Era, 1952-1960
Chapter 38: The Eisenhower Era, 1952-1960 |
The Advent of EisenhowerAmerican people found themselves in the 1950s dug into the Cold War abroad and dangerously divided at home over the explosive issues of communist subversion and civil rightsDemocratic prospects in the president election of 1952 were blighted by the military deadlock in Korea, Truman’s clash with MacArthur, war-bred inflation, and whiffs of scandalDemocrats nominated Adlai E. Stevenson (governor of Illinois) while the Republicans enthusiastically chose General Dwight D. Eisenhower (and paired him with Richard Nixon)Eisenhower was already the most popular American of his time (television politics, credentials)Eisenhower left the rough campaigning to Nixon, but reports surfaced of a secret “slush fund” that Nixon had tapped while in Senate and he made a “Checkers speech” that saved himNixon and Eisenhower both embraced the new technology of the black-and-white televisionThis new medium was a threat to the historic role of political parties (political communication)Eisenhower cracked the solid South wide open and ensured GOP control of the new Congress “Ike” Takes CommandEisenhower visited Korea in December 1952 but could not budge the peace negotiations; only after Eisenhower threatened to use atomic weapons seven months later was an armistice finally signed but was repeatedly violated in the succeeding decadesThe fighting lasted three years and about fifty-four thousand Americans died and more than a million Asians were dead but only Korea remained divided at the thirty-eighth parallelEisenhower had a leadership style that projected sincerity, fairness, and optimism; his greatest asset was his enjoyment of the affection and respect of the citizenryHis immense popularity was used for a good cause (social harmony and civil rights) The Rise and Fall of Joseph McCarthyOne of the first problems Eisenhower faced was the swelling popularity and swaggering power of anticommunist crusader Senator Joseph
The Advent of EisenhowerAmerican people found themselves in the 1950s dug into the Cold War abroad and dangerously divided at home over the explosive issues of communist subversion and civil rightsDemocratic prospects in the president election of 1952 were blighted by the military deadlock in Korea, Truman’s clash with MacArthur, war-bred inflation, and whiffs of scandalDemocrats nominated Adlai E. Stevenson (governor of Illinois) while the Republicans enthusiastically chose General Dwight D. Eisenhower (and paired him with Richard Nixon)Eisenhower was already the most popular American of his time (television politics, credentials)Eisenhower left the rough campaigning to Nixon, but reports surfaced of a secret “slush fund” that Nixon had tapped while in Senate and he made a “Checkers speech” that saved himNixon and Eisenhower both embraced the new technology of the black-and-white televisionThis new medium was a threat to the historic role of political parties (political communication)Eisenhower cracked the solid South wide open and ensured GOP control of the new Congress “Ike” Takes CommandEisenhower visited Korea in December 1952 but could not budge the peace negotiations; only after Eisenhower threatened to use atomic weapons seven months later was an armistice finally signed but was repeatedly violated in the succeeding decadesThe fighting lasted three years and about fifty-four thousand Americans died and more than a million Asians were dead but only Korea remained divided at the thirty-eighth parallelEisenhower had a leadership style that projected sincerity, fairness, and optimism; his greatest asset was his enjoyment of the affection and respect of the citizenryHis immense popularity was used for a good cause (social harmony and civil rights) The Rise and Fall of Joseph McCarthyOne of the first problems Eisenhower faced was the swelling popularity and swaggering power of anticommunist crusader Senator Joseph