The Eisenhower Years

Nickname "Ike"Nickname: "Ike" BornOct. 14, 1890, in TexasBorn: Oct. 14, 1890, in Texas DiedMarch 28, 1969, in Washington, D.C.Died: March 28, 1969, in Washington, D.C. Education West PointEducation: Graduate of West Point WWII: Supreme Allied Commander during WWIIWWII: Supreme Allied Commander during WWII Nickname "Ike"Nickname: "Ike" BornOct. 14, 1890, in TexasBorn: Oct. 14, 1890, in Texas DiedMarch 28, 1969, in Washington, D.C.Died: March 28, 1969, in Washington, D.C. Education West PointEducation: Graduate of West Point WWII: Supreme Allied Commander during WWIIWWII: Supreme Allied Commander during WWII 34th PresidentRepublican, 1953 to th President: Republican, 1953 to 1961 VPRichard NixonVP: Richard Nixon 34th PresidentRepublican, 1953 to th President: Republican, 1953 to 1961 VPRichard NixonVP: Richard Nixon

Issues/EventsIssues/Events Civil Rights Plessy vs. Ferguson overturned Public Schools Integrated Rosa Parks Montgomery Bus Strike Rise of Martin Luther King Little Rock Nine Cold War Ended the Korean WarEnded the Korean War Suez CanalSuez Canal IranIran Eisenhower DoctrineEisenhower Doctrine HungaryHungary BerlinBerlin SputnikSputnik U-2 Spy PlaneU-2 Spy Plane Civil Rights Plessy vs. Ferguson overturned Public Schools Integrated Rosa Parks Montgomery Bus Strike Rise of Martin Luther King Little Rock Nine Cold War Ended the Korean WarEnded the Korean War Suez CanalSuez Canal IranIran Eisenhower DoctrineEisenhower Doctrine HungaryHungary BerlinBerlin SputnikSputnik U-2 Spy PlaneU-2 Spy Plane

Domestic Policy Balanced, moderate “Bland leading the bland” appearance, not reality Overall, a time of prosperity New Deal a part of modern life Modern Republicanism accepts the New Deal Expands farm aid, Social Security, housing, health services Highway Act of ,000 miles of interstate highways linking major cities Improve national defense Good for jobs, trucking Bad for the poor, public transportation

The Culture of the Car First McDonald’s (1955) America became a more homogeneous nation because of the automobile. Drive-In Movies Howard Johnson’s

The Culture of the Car Car registrations: > 25,000, > 60,000,000 2-family cars doubles from Car registrations: > 25,000, > 60,000,000 2-family cars doubles from Federal Interstate Highway Act largest public works project in American history!  Cost $32 billion  41,000 miles of new highways built  Cost $32 billion  41,000 miles of new highways built 1956 Federal Interstate Highway Act largest public works project in American history!  Cost $32 billion  41,000 miles of new highways built  Cost $32 billion  41,000 miles of new highways built

The Culture of the Car 1959 Chevy Corvette 1958 Pink Cadillac

The Culture of the Car 1955  Disneyland opened in Southern California. (40% of the guests came from outside California, most by car.) Frontier Land Main Street Tomorrow Land

The Culture of the Car The U. S. population was on the move in the 1950s. NE & Mid-W ---> S & SW (“Sunbelt” states)

Foreign Policy Korean War ends in a stalemate. Shaped by John Foster Dulles under Ike’s direction Truman too passive Brinksmanship to the brink to US Push Communist nations to the brink of war, they will back down to US nuclear superiority Massive Retaliation Focus on nuclear weapons, air power H-Bomb in 1953 Criticized as “mutual extinction”

Stalemate by POTUS IKE negotiated an end to war Divided at 38 th parallel Communism contained Remains divided today Stalemate by POTUS IKE negotiated an end to war Divided at 38 th parallel Communism contained Remains divided today

THE COLD WAR SPREADS As the Cold War heated up, the US depended more and more on information compiled by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) The CIA began attempts to weaken or overthrow governments unfriendly to the US

COVERT ACTIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST One of the first covert operations occurred in the Middle East In Iran the US orchestrated the return of the pro-US Shah of Iran in 1953 The last Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

COVERT OPS IN LATIN AMERICA In 1954, the CIA also took covert actions in Guatemala (a Central America country just south of Mexico) The US believed Guatemala was on the verge of becoming Communist, so the CIA trained an army which invaded the small country The actions eventually failed as a military dictator rose to power

Communist Expansion A Chronology of Events China 1949 Soviet Union 1918 Korean War 1950 to 1953 Eastern Europe 1946 CONTAINMENT Marshall Plan Berlin Airlift NATO Korean War Berlin Blockade X X X X

Soviet Concerns Stalin’s Death (1953) Khrushchev (1956): “peaceful coexistence” Hungarian Revolt (1956) Suez Canal Crisis (1956 to 57) Sputnik (1957) Second Berlin Crisis (1958) Khrushchev: “We will bury capitalism” U-2 Incident (1960) Support for Castro in Cuba (1959)

New Soviet leader after Stalin’s death in 1953 to Not as harsh as Stalin Believed US and Soviet Union could “peacefully co-exist” with one another but the Soviet Union had to be as strong militarily as the US. New Soviet leader after Stalin’s death in 1953 to Not as harsh as Stalin Believed US and Soviet Union could “peacefully co-exist” with one another but the Soviet Union had to be as strong militarily as the US.

The Suez Crisis:

Eisenhower Doctrine 1957 Pledged US military and economic aid to Middle Eastern nations threatened by communist aggression The real problem for the US in the Middle East was nationalism as exemplified by Egypt’s Nasser who will play the US and the USSR to his benefit and become wildly popular among the masses of all Arab nations The poor sandy sheikdom’s increasingly resolved to reap for themselves the lion’s share of the enormous oil wealth that the western countries pumped out of its deserts Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, and Iran join with Venezuela to form OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting States) By 1948, US was a net importer of oil and its days as an oil producing giant were numbered

Cold War continues with propaganda radio broadcasts

Cold War continues with the Soviets also using propaganda radio broadcasts

Mad Magazine makes fun of the Cold War with their Spy vs. Spy column. CIA vs. KGB

The Hungarian Uprising: 1956 Imre Nagy, Hungarian Prime Minister Promised free elections. This could lead to the end of communist rule in Hungary.

Sputnik I (1957) The Commies have beaten America in space—they have the technological edge!

1957 Russians launch SPUTNIK I Facts on Sputnik Aluminum sphere, 23 inches in diameter weighing 184 pounds with four steel antennae emitting radio signals. Launched Oct. 4, 1957 Stayed in orbit 92 days, until Jan. 4, 1958 Facts on Sputnik Aluminum sphere, 23 inches in diameter weighing 184 pounds with four steel antennae emitting radio signals. Launched Oct. 4, 1957 Stayed in orbit 92 days, until Jan. 4, 1958

Effects on the United States Americans fear a Soviet attack with missile technology Effects on the United States Americans fear a Soviet attack with missile technology Americans resolved to regain technological superiority over the Soviet Union In July 1958, President Eisenhower created NASA or National Space and Aeronautics Agency >National Defense Education Act > National Defense Education Act Americans resolved to regain technological superiority over the Soviet Union In July 1958, President Eisenhower created NASA or National Space and Aeronautics Agency >National Defense Education Act > National Defense Education Act 1957 Russians launch SPUTNIK I

Atomic Anxieties: “Duck-and-Cover Generation” Atomic Anxieties: “Duck-and-Cover Generation” Atomic Testing: Between July 16, 1945 and Sept. 23, 1992, the United States conducted 1,054 official nuclear tests, most of them at the Nevada Test Site. Atomic Testing: Between July 16, 1945 and Sept. 23, 1992, the United States conducted 1,054 official nuclear tests, most of them at the Nevada Test Site. Americans began building underground bomb shelters and cities had underground fallout shelters. Effects of Sputnik on United States

Between 1949 and 1963, the United States and Soviet Union conducted more than 100 above ground nuclear weapons tests. Limited Test Ban Treaty in 1963 banned all above-ground testing sending nuclear tests underground. On Oct. 26, 1963 at the Shoal underground nuclear test site 1,204 feet below the surface a nuclear detonation conducted in the Sand Springs Mountain Range about 30 miles southeast of Fallon, Nevada. Produced a yield of 12.5 kilotons and analyzed seismic detection of underground nuclear tests in active earthquake areas. Desert Research Institute The veiled purpose of the experiment may have been to discern the difference between Russian earthquakes and Russian nuclear testing.

A haunting moment of atomic testing from Fallon is captured in this photo. Taken in the dead of night sometime in the early 1950s The silhouette of a few trees is lit up by a bright flash to the south, Presumably at the Nevada Test Site northwest of Las Vegas. A haunting moment of atomic testing from Fallon is captured in this photo. Taken in the dead of night sometime in the early 1950s The silhouette of a few trees is lit up by a bright flash to the south, Presumably at the Nevada Test Site northwest of Las Vegas.

U-2 Spy Incident (1960) Col. Francis Gary Powers’ plane was shot down over Soviet airspace.

On May 1, 1960, a US U-2 high altitude reconnaissance aircraft was shot down over central Russia, forcing its pilot, Gary Powers, to bail out at 15,000 feet. On May 1, 1960, a US U-2 high altitude reconnaissance aircraft was shot down over central Russia, forcing its pilot, Gary Powers, to bail out at 15,000 feet. The CIA-employed pilot survived the parachute jump and was picked up by the Soviet authorities, who arrested him. The CIA-employed pilot survived the parachute jump and was picked up by the Soviet authorities, who arrested him. On May 5, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev announced the capture of the US spy, and vowed that he would be put on trial. On May 5, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev announced the capture of the US spy, and vowed that he would be put on trial.

After initial denials, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower admitted on May 7 that the unarmed reconnaissance aircraft was indeed on a spy mission. After initial denials, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower admitted on May 7 that the unarmed reconnaissance aircraft was indeed on a spy mission. In response, Khrushchev cancelled a long-awaited summit meeting in Paris, and in August, Powers was sentenced to ten years in a Soviet prison for his confessed espionage. In response, Khrushchev cancelled a long-awaited summit meeting in Paris, and in August, Powers was sentenced to ten years in a Soviet prison for his confessed espionage. However, a year-and-a-half later, on February 10, 1962, the Soviets released him in exchange for Rudolph Abel, a Soviet spy caught and convicted in the United States five years earlier. However, a year-and-a-half later, on February 10, 1962, the Soviets released him in exchange for Rudolph Abel, a Soviet spy caught and convicted in the United States five years earlier. Led to the Berlin Wall being built and the Cold War “heating up again” Led to the Berlin Wall being built and the Cold War “heating up again”

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McCarthyism Even IKE wouldn’t openly challenge him until McCarthy went after Ike’s beloved US Army Reign of terror ended Army hearings in 1954 televised McCarthy exposed as a bully (“reckless cruelty”) Censured by the Republican controlled USS

Nationalism in the Third World Asia Fall of Indochina, Division of Vietnam Domino Theory SEATO Middle East Suez Crisis, Soviet Influence Eisenhower Doctrine OPEC Latin America CIA overthrows leftist government in Guatemala VP Nixon attacked in Venezuela

Popular Culture Consumer-driven mass economy Television By 1961, 55 million TV sets 3 national networks, bland sit- coms, westerns, quiz shows, sports, “vast wasteland” for children, culture Advertising All media, aggressive Shopping centers, credit cards Change from “mom & pop” to franchises

ConsumerismConsumerism > Introduction of the Diner’s Card Americans were caught up in the “economic boom” that took place after WWII

ConsumerismConsumerism consumer society Americans were becoming a consumer society…..Buying whatever new product that came out that would make their lives comfortable.

TelevisionTelevision I Love Lucy Alice Kramden, The Honeymooners Wally and the Beav Family Shows --> glossy view of mostly middle- class suburban life. Family Shows --> glossy view of mostly middle- class suburban life.

Popular Culture Paperback books Reading Increase despite television—1 million copies a day Records Mass-marketed, inexpensive LP’s or 45’s Rock and Roll music becomes popular with teenagers

Teen Culture “Happy Days” OR “Juvenile Delinquency”? “Happy Days” OR “Juvenile Delinquency”? Marlon Brando in The Wild One (1953) James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause (1955) Dobie Gillis

Teen Culture Behavioral Rules of the 1950s Obey AuthorityObey Authority. Control Your Emotions.Control Your Emotions. Don’t Make WavesDon’t Make Waves Fit in with the Group.Fit in with the Group. Don’t Even Think About Sex!Don’t Even Think About Sex! Obey AuthorityObey Authority. Control Your Emotions.Control Your Emotions. Don’t Make WavesDon’t Make Waves Fit in with the Group.Fit in with the Group. Don’t Even Think About Sex!Don’t Even Think About Sex!

Popular Culture Role of Women Mass media reinforced traditional roles Lower wages in the workplace Social Critics Struggle against conformity Wanted increased social spending Beatniks Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg

Well-Defined Gender Roles Changing Sexual Behavior: Alfred Kinsey--> > Sexual Behavior in the Human Male > Sexual Behavior in the Human Female Changing Sexual Behavior: Alfred Kinsey --> > Sexual Behavior in the Human Male > Sexual Behavior in the Human Female * premarital sex was common. * extramarital affairs were frequent among married couples. Kinsey’s results are an assault on the family as a basic unit of society, a negation of moral law, and a celebration of licentiousness. -- Life magazine, early 1950s

Teen Culture The “Beatnik” Generation: * Jack Kerouac --> On The Road * Allen Ginsberg --> poem, “Howl” * Neal Cassady * William S. Burroughs A man is beat whenever he goes for broke and wagers the sum of his resources on a single number; and the young generation has done that continually from early youth John Clellan Holms Jack Kerouac is said to have responded: We’re a beat generation!Jack Kerouac is said to have responded: We’re a beat generation! Against traditional values of the Great Depressions and WWII generation (their parents)Against traditional values of the Great Depressions and WWII generation (their parents) Would influence the “counter-culture” of the 1960’sWould influence the “counter-culture” of the 1960’s

Conformity Corporate America More white-collar jobs than blue-collar Teamwork, conformity, strict dress codes Big unions merge (AFL & CIO) more conservative—industrial jobs making middle-class income Suburbs, new cars, new schools, family vacations Religion After WWII, organized religion expands, becomes more tolerant 1000s of new churches, synagogues Less interest in doctrine, more in socialization, identity

A Changing Workplace New Corporate Culture “The Company Man” > factory workers decreased by 4.3%, eliminating 1.5 million blue-collar jobs. By > more white- collar than blue-collar jobs in the U. S By > more white- collar than blue-collar jobs in the U. S > Sloan Wilson’s The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit New Corporate Culture “The Company Man” > factory workers decreased by 4.3%, eliminating 1.5 million blue-collar jobs. By > more white- collar than blue-collar jobs in the U. S By > more white- collar than blue-collar jobs in the U. S > Sloan Wilson’s The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit

Well-Defined Gender Roles ideal 1950’s man was the provider, protector, and the boss of the house. The ideal 1950’s man was the provider, protector, and the boss of the house. -- Life magazine, > William H. Whyte, Jr. --> The Organization Man - a middle-class, white suburban male is the ideal. Young Gentleman Family Man The Provider

POTUS IKE handily wins re-election in 1956

Religious Revival Today in the U. S., the Christian faith is back in the center of things. -- Time magazine, 1954 Church membership: 1940  64,000,  114,000,000 Television Preachers 1. Catholic Bishop Fulton J. Sheen --> “Life is Worth Living” 2. Methodist Minister Norman Vincent Peale --> The Power of Positive Thinking 3. Reverend Billy Graham --> ecumenical message; warned against the evils of Communism. Television Preachers 1. Catholic Bishop Fulton J. Sheen --> “Life is Worth Living” 2. Methodist Minister Norman Vincent Peale --> The Power of Positive Thinking 3. Reverend Billy Graham --> ecumenical message; warned against the evils of Communism.

Religious Revival Hollywood: apex of the biblical epics. It’s un-American to be unreligious! -- The Christian Century, 1954 It’s un-American to be unreligious! -- The Christian Century, 1954 The Robe The Ten Commandments Ben Hur The Robe The Ten Commandments Ben Hur

Civil Rights Background narea Post WWI & WWII movement to urban areas African Americans influencing party politics by the 1950s om and democracy Conflicting feelings about Cold War message of freedom and democracy

Civil Rights Landmark in Desegregation Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) Federal troops uphold in Little Rock, Ark. Little Rock 9 Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955) Rosa Parks, MLK, Jr. Civil Rights Acts of 1957 & 1960 First since Reconstruction SCLC Greensboro sit-in SNCC

Rosa parks Refused, arrested and fined $10 for sitting in the white section. Blacks refused to ride buses until the law was changed. Begins the Civil Rights Era as a national movement to bring about equality for Black Americans. Refused, arrested and fined $10 for sitting in the white section. Blacks refused to ride buses until the law was changed. Begins the Civil Rights Era as a national movement to bring about equality for Black Americans. December 1955, Rosa Parks, a 42 yr. old Black woman was ordered by a Montgomery bus driver to give up her seat to white passengers.

Rosa parks Rosa Parks case led to the against segregation on public buses Rosa Parks case led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott against segregation on public buses. Led by Martin Luther King, Jr. Montgomery City Government ended segregation. Rosa Parks case led to the against segregation on public buses Rosa Parks case led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott against segregation on public buses. Led by Martin Luther King, Jr. Montgomery City Government ended segregation. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leader for Black Civil Rights End Jim Crow Promote integration Increase voting rights Bring about a true democracy Rights deprived since Civil War Martin Luther King, Jr. Leader for Black Civil Rights End Jim Crow Promote integration Increase voting rights Bring about a true democracy Rights deprived since Civil War

May 1954, the Supreme Court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and the "separate but equal" doctrine, 9-0. Segregation of children in public schools on the basis of race was unconstitutional and discrimination. States ordered to integrate their schools. Brown vs. board Brown vs. Board of Education, Topeka, Kansas

little rock in Little Rock, Arkansas was the first high school in the South to integrate. Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas was the first high school in the South to integrate. 1958, sent Federal troops to accompany the nine black students attending an all white high school , President Eisenhower sent Federal troops to accompany the nine black students attending an all white high school... in Little Rock, Arkansas was the first high school in the South to integrate. Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas was the first high school in the South to integrate. 1958, sent Federal troops to accompany the nine black students attending an all white high school , President Eisenhower sent Federal troops to accompany the nine black students attending an all white high school...

The Constitution is as the Supreme Court interprets it." President Dwight D. Eisenhower “The Constitution is as the Supreme Court interprets it." - President Dwight D. Eisenhower The 101 st Airborne Division:

Progress Through Science First IBM Mainframe Computer Hydrogen Bomb Test DNA Structure Discovered Salk Vaccine Tested for polio First Commercial U. S. Nuclear Power Plant NASA Created (National Aeronautical Space Administration) Press Conference of the First 7 American Astronauts

Progress Through Science UFO Sightings skyrocketed in the 1950s. Hollywood used aliens as an allegory for whom ?? War of the Worlds

The 50s Come to a Close 1959  “Kitchen Debate” Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev US Embassy, Moscow, Soviet Union at the American National Exhibition 1959  “Kitchen Debate” Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev US Embassy, Moscow, Soviet Union at the American National Exhibition Cold War Tensions   Technology & Affluence