Dwight D. Eisenhower
34th President (1953-1961)
Election of 1952
- Eisenhower was the Republican candidate from New York
- The Democratic candidate was Adlai Stevenson from Illinois
- 55.2% of voters picked Eisenhower
- Electoral Votes - Eisenhower: 442 Stevenson: 89
Election of 1956
- Once again, it was Eisenhower (Republican) running against Stevenson (Democrat)
- Everyone already believed Eisenhower would win since he was responsible for ending the Korean War
- 57.4% of people voted for Eisenhower
- Electoral Votes: Eisenhower - 457 Stevenson - 73
Cold War & Eisenhower
- Tension between the Eastern and Western Blocs
Cold War events during Eisenhower's presidency:
- US Marines deployed to Lebanon
- Sputnik launched by Soviet Union during the Space Race
- Fidel Castro takes over Cuba
- American U2 shot down in USSR, creating tension
Joseph McCarthy: Senator of Wisconsin who accused the state department of hiring communists during Cold War tensions
Space War (1955-1972)
- The USSR and USA competed to see who was more technologically advanced
- Part of the Cold War
- Lasted for 17 years
- Sputnik: First earth satellite which completed 1350 orbits during a 92 day mission launched by USSR
- NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) became very prominent during this time period
Eisenhower & Desegregation
The racial discrimination that had been around for centuries started to change during the time that Eisenhower was in office
- Brown vs. Topeka - A court case which stated that segregation in public schools was illegal after the Little Rock incident, in which troops blocked African Americans from entering a high school
- Montgomery Bus Boycott - Public buses discriminated against African Americans, but during a campaign against racism, Rosa Parks became famous for refusing to give up her seat to a white person.
Eisenhower's Policies
- "Dynamic conservatism"
- Wanted to balance federal budget as well as the guard the people from "creeping socialism"
- Wanted to cancel tribal preservation policies from the "Indian New Deal"
- Dramatically changed the "New Deal"
Beginning of Vietnam War (1956-1975)
- During Eisenhower’s time in office, USA undertook tried to build a nation from what was South Vietnam:
- USA sent military to train South Vietnamese Army
- Took control of South Vietnam from France
- Sent CIA against the North