Dwight D. Eisenhower - Foreign policy Flashcards
The Space Race
In 1957, the Soviets launched the first satellite Sputnik into space - Americans reacted hysterically as they believed the Soviets could send nuclear warheads across oceans.
Despite pressure, Ike refused to overreact as there would be no fallout shelter programme, or build up in the nuclear or armed forces.
1958, Soviets launched Sputnik 2 into space, which was 300 times heavier than the first satellite - in response, Ike asked congress to make the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) to win the space race, July.
The Arms Race
The Americans tested their first hydrogen bomb in 1952, the Soviet in 1953. To reduce tensions, Ike suggested ‘open skies’ at the Geneva Summit July 1955, in which both sides could fly over the others territory to monitor any military buildup, but Krushchev rejected this policy.
The US had 1000 nuclear weapons in 1953, but had 6000 by 1961 due to political pressure to stockpile nuclear weapons and stay ahead of the Soviets.
The debate over intervention in Vietnam
After WW2, Vietnamese communist Ho Chi Minh led the fight for independence against French colonialism. Truman gave $2 billion to support the French war effort - Eisenhower continued this policy. But in 1954, the French begged Eisenhower for an American air strike.
Arguments for American intervention of the French in Vietnam.
- A cooperative, strong, anticommunist France was important to the Western alliance.
- Eisenhower didn’t want advocations that he ‘lost’ Vietnam
*Eisenhower was told by the NSC that Vietnam was ‘vital to the security of the US’.
Arguments against American intervention of the French in Vietnam.
*The ‘New Look’ Policy meant that few troops were readily available.
*Advisers debated whether the loss of Vietnam would lead to the loss of others.
*Eisenhower gained popularity for pulling troops out of Korea and didn’t want to send troops back to SE Asia.
The Geneva Conference 1954 on Vietnam
Agreed for France to exit and Vietnam to be split into the communist north and non-communist south, however Eisenhower refused to sign these Geneva accords and set up a new ‘state’ of South Vietnam under Diem. 1961, Eisenhower gave Diem $7 billion in aid and established SEATO to protect South Vietnam.
Eisenhower was often praised for keeping troops out of Vietnam, however he missed the opportunity to exit Vietnam with the French, in which he held massive responsibility for the future Vietnam war.
China and Taiwan 1955
Soon after the establishment of SEATO, China bombarded Quemoy and Matsu in 1955, controlled by Kai Sheck. JC’s pressured Ike to intervene, who had no treaty with Sheck, and wasn’t willing to risk war over 2 small islands.
However, when American pilots were arrested by Korean armistice soldiers, Ike signed a treaty with Sheck, committing the US to the defence of Taiwan through the use of atomic weapons, and China backed down by April.
In 1958, tensions between Quemoy and Matsu with China picked up again, but Ike threatened to respond if the islands were invaded, and China backed down once again.
Causes - The Suez Canal crisis
Arab Israeli tensions occurred, with Jews proclaiming the establishment of Israel - Neighbouring Arab states enfuriated by the dispossession of Palestinian land.
Eisenhower promised Egypt financial and technical aid to build up the Aswan Dam. Egypts Leader, Nasser , used the money to buy soviet-supplied arms from the Czechs.
Dulles withdrew aid offer in July 1956. Britain and France resented loss of investment, and sought American support for military action against Nasser - Eisenhower said ‘Nasser was within his right’.
Events - the Suez Canal Crisis
October 1956, Israel attack Egypt and took the Sinai Desert . Britain and France move in to safeguard the Suez Canal - The British expected sympathy as Eisenhower disliked Nasser, but Ike wanted too…
*keep in with Arab nations for oil and friendship against the communist bloc.
*avoid alienating muslims across the world
*Teach Britain, France and Israel to never act without keeping him informed - “Nothing justifies double-crossing us”.
Eisenhower recieved international acclaim, but Nasser and the Soviets continued to pose problems.
Iran
1951, Irans Prime Minister Mossadegh seized English-owned Anglo-Persian oil company - British & American oil companies and the CIA assured Ike Iran might turn communist.
Eisenhower used the CIA to persuade an Iranian coup in 1953 to restore the authority of dictorial, Pro-American Shah, who gave US oil companies 40% of Iranian oil.
Hungarian Uprising causes
1956, Student, Workers, and soldiers riots smashed Stalin statue and attacked AVH / Russian soldiers.
Prime minister, Imre Nagy asked Khrushchev to withdraw Soviet troops.
New Hungarian Democracy introduced freedom of speech and religion as Catholic leader freed.
Events of the Hungarian uprising
Khrushchev didn’t want Hungary to leave the Warsaw Pact as other satellite states would follow.
4th November, 1000 tanks and 250,000 soldiers rolled into Budapest, toppling democratic government and capturing radio and the army - 20,000 Hungarians killed.
Hungarian rebels expected American aid because of promises of rollback, however, Ike said that landlocked Hungary was ‘as inaccessible to us as Tibet’.
Furthermore, there was a crisis in the Middle East which Eisenhower considered more important.
Consequences of Hungarian Uprising
Created fear amongst satellite states as they could no longer expect support from the US as it would be seen as an act of war - Khrushchev more confident in dealing with the US in international affairs.
Berlin refugee crisis
Khrushchev was anxious about Germany; the West refused to give the East diplomatic recognition and the West was a magnet for skilled east workers.
November 1958, Khrushchev demanded Berlin became a ‘free city’ and threatened to turn access routes from Berlin to East Germany - Eisenhower didn’t respond.
Democrats and the Defence Department accused Eisenhower of failing to take the Berlin Crisis seriously.
Eisenhower said ‘the communist objective is to make us spend ourselves into bankruptcy’ and asked ‘what would you do with ground forces in Europe?’.
Eisenhower made it clear he would always support West Berlin, but he denied there was Berlin crisis - gave Khrushchev room to retreat and the crisis passed.
The ‘New Look’ Policy
US foreign policy was not only preventing communist expansion, but liberating soviet-controlled Eastern Europe. Eisenhower believed his sacred duty was to balance the budget eg. limiting military spending.
The ‘New Look’ policy rejected the ideas of NSC-68.
Brinkmanship was the idea that the US could use its nuclear superiority to get the communist back.
Eisenhower limited military spending between $35 and $40 billion - he got away with this by increasing spending on nuclear weapons
