The Presidency Flashcards
Give 3 attributes to describe Eisenhower.
1) Tough ‘uncle’
2) reserved
3) presidential responsibility and accountability
How did Eisenhower feel towards war/ foreign policy ?
He saw the military as an instrument to his foreign policy but war as a last resort.
What is dynamic conservatism ?
Preserving the New Deal legacy, while allowing Americans to be economically free through upholding traditional republican values.
Give a quote of Eisenhower to highlight Eisenhower’s domestic program of dynamic conservatism.
“Conservative when it comes to money, liberal when it comes to human beings”.
Who won the 1952 election ?
Eisenhower
How many years had the democratic party been in power for before Eisenhower’s victory at the 1952 election ?
20
How much of the popular vote did Eisenhower win at the 1952 election ?
55.2%
How much of the electoral vote did Eisenhower secure at the 1952 election ?
442
How many states did Eisenhower win at the 1952 election ?
39 of the 48 states
Give a fact to show how Eisenhower had shown little interest in politics before 1948
He had never voted before 1948
How were Truman and Eisenhower linked before 1952 ?
Truman had asked if Eisenhower wanted to be on the democrat ticket in the 1948 election with Truman as VP.
What is the ‘ticket’ ?
the person nominated to run for the party
To get on the ticket for the 1952 election, who did Eisenhower have to beat ?
‘Old guard’ Robert A. Taft
What was an ‘old guard’ ?
A long standing member of the Republican party
Give 2 examples of things that Eisenhower’s opponent for the Republican ticket, Robert A. Taft believed in.
1) isolationist
2) opposed formation of NATO
What was Eisenhower’s slogan for the 1952 election ?
‘I like Ike’ (Ike being Eisenhower’s nickname)
Who did Eisenhower choose to be his running mate for the 1952 election ?
Richard Nixon (39 years old)
Why did Eisenhower choose Richard Nixon to be his running mate for the 1952 election ?
This is because he was known for being anti communist
Give 2 examples of how Eisenhower’s running mate, Richard Nixon, could be considered anti communist.
1) led the case against Alger Hiss
2) had worked in HUAC
What was Eisenhower’s method for campaigning for the 1952 election ? (2)
1) K1C2
2) 30 second television advertisements
What did Eisenhower’s campaigning method for the 1952 election ‘K1C2’ mean ?
K = Korea; ending the Korean war. The Korean war was largely responsible for Truman’s approval rating being 22%.
C = corruption; attacked the perceived corruption in the Truman administration
C = communism; went hard on anti communism
What was significant about Eisenhower’s use of 30 second TV advertisements in the 1952 election campaign ?
It was the 1st time TV commercials played a major role in a presidential election.
Give one mistake that Eisenhower made during the 1952 election campaign.
He failed to defend former secretary of state, George C Marshall from McCarthy’s attacks.
Why was Nixon almost a liability for Eisenhower ?
This is because Nixon had acquired a reputation as ‘Tricky Dicky’ and was a very cunning politician.
Give one reason as to why Richard Nixon, Eisenhower’s running mate, was labelled ‘Tricky Dicky’.
This is because, there was an accusation that he had used $18,000 in funding for personal usage.
How was Richard Nixon able to distract people from the accusation that he had used $18,000 in funding for personal usage during the 1952 election campaign ?
He made his ‘Checkers speech’ whereby he spoke about the family dog.
Give one problem with Eisenhower’s popularity and the winning of the 1952 election.
His success did not lead to many Republicans making it into congress.
What did Eisenhower suggest to Nixon in the lead up to the 1956 election ?
That Nixon take on a cabinet position, instead of VP.
How did Nixon respond to Eisenhower’s suggestion in the run up to the 1956 election campaign that he take on a cabinet position instead of being VP ?
Nixon fought back, wanting to remain VP, especially as he wanted to run for president in 1960. Eventually, Eisenhower relented and let Nixon be VP again.
During 1955, What did Eisenhower’s approval rating in the Gallup poll range between which showed that there seemed to be little doubt about him winning the 1956 election ?
68 - 79
How can it be said that Eisenhower’s health was not good in 1955.
He suffered a heart attack in this year
Despite Eisenhower’s ill health, Eisenhower still ran for the 1956 election and ___.
won
How much of the popular vote did Eisenhower win at the 1956 election ?
57.4%, up from 55.2% at the 1952 election
How many states did Eisenhower win at the 1956 election ?
41, up from 39 at the 1952 election
What 2 events in 1956 bolstered Eisenhower’s support for reelection ?
1) Suez Crisis
2) Hungarian revolution
What was the only bright spot for Democrats in the 1956 election ?
They retained control of congress, which they had secured in the midterm election of 1954.
What was Eisenhower the first candidate since Zachary Taylor to do in the 1956 election ?
To win the presidency without having his party gain a majority of seats in either the house nor the senate.
