Ike's New Look—Learning to Love the Bomb (and Covert Action)

Question 1

Covert Action

Answer 1

Covert action refers to clandestine activities undertaken by a government or intelligence agency to influence events or conditions in another country, typically for strategic, political, or security objectives.

Question 2

Covert Action in terms of Ike (Eisenhower)

Answer 2

Covert action played a notable role in U.S. historical diplomacy, especially during Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidency in the 1950s. Eisenhower, a former military general, embraced covert operations as a tool of Cold War diplomacy. Under his administration, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was empowered to conduct clandestine operations to counter the spread of communism. One of the most famous instances was the overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh in 1953, known as Operation Ajax, which aimed to safeguard Western oil interests. Similarly, in Guatemala, the CIA orchestrated a coup in 1954 to remove President Jacobo Árbenz, whom the U.S. perceived as having communist ties. These covert actions reflected Eisenhower’s commitment to containing the influence of the Soviet Union and promoting U.S. interests worldwide, showcasing the strategic use of covert operations as a tool of diplomacy during the Cold War era.

Question 3

Dwight D. Eisenhower, Nikita Khrushchev, and Nuclear Arms

Answer 3

Eisenhower’s Presidency (1952):
Elected in 1952, Dwight D. Eisenhower aimed to oppose communism globally while maintaining low taxes and containing military costs.
Doctrine of Massive Retaliation:
Introduced by Eisenhower, relying on overwhelming nuclear superiority for swift responses to communist aggression.
Nuclear Arms Race (1950s):
Intensified with the end of the U.S. atomic monopoly in 1949.
Hydrogen bomb development, successful tests, and technological innovations fueled the arms race.
Cold War Tensions and Global Challenges:
Heightened tensions during Eisenhower’s era over ongoing disputes and crises in Korea, Taiwan Strait, and Berlin.
Challenges in the Third World led to political volatility in various regions.
Summit Diplomacy and Limited Success:
Summit conferences attempted to ease tensions, but concrete disarmament results were limited.
Atoms for Peace and Global Impact:
“Atoms for Peace” program initiated controlled export of nuclear reactors to developing countries.
Post-Cold War proliferation and inspection crises raised questions about monitoring procedures.
Debate Over Nuclear Weapons’ Role:
Scholars debate the impact of nuclear weapons during the Cold War, considering concerns about limited war use.
Unresolved Question: Arms Race Control:
Major question: Why couldn’t leaders control the nuclear arms race during the Cold War?