US - Eisenhower Flashcards
Eisenhower’s Presidential term
1953 to 1960
Why was Eisenhower well known for?
Serving as the Commander of the Allied invasion of North Africa and Supreme Commander of the Allies during the Normandy landings. He then became President of Columbia University. He was the head of NATO in 1950, resigning in 1952 to run for president.
Eisenhower’s VP
Richard Nixon
How did Eisenhower view Truman’s foreign policy?
He criticised it saying that Truman did not stand up to communism enough, that containment was “negative, futile and immoral” and that people need to be liberated from communist rule. (unrealistic)
Who was Eisenhower’s Secretary of State?
John Foster Dulles
What is the “New Look”?
It proposed cutting conventional forces, making the US more dependant on nuclear weapons. This would be cheaper and nuclear weapons would be just as threatening, especially with the hydrogen bomb. They would get “more bang for the buck”
Massive retaliation and the ‘new look’ proposal?
It could make the US look weak, something Dulles pointed out, he said that people who may take on the US should be made to suffer, massive retaliation.
What was the problem with Dulles’ idea?
He had to flash the nuclear bomb whenever he wanted to threaten another country with force, making every conflict a potential nuclear war.
How did Eisenhower fix Dulles’ nuclear bomb obsession?
He tried to create a more peaceful relationship with the USSR to make sure that massive retaliation was never used.
The Geneva Summit
Geneva, July 1955
Eisenhower met with Khrushchev, who also wanted to cut spending on the military and peaceful co-existence, and proposed free communications and peaceful use of atomic power as well as an open skies policy. This was rejected by the Soviets.
US response to the Geneva Summit
They sent spy planes out anyway, the summit achieved nothing, an agreement was finally reached following the removal of forces from Austria and the Soviets recognised the Federal Republic.
When did Khrushchev visit the US?
September 1959 for 13 days, he visited Washington, New York and Camp David, amongst others. He was the first communist leader to visit the US.
VP Nixon’s visit to Moscow
July 1959 - resulted in the ‘kitchen debate’ arguing about the merits of technology and how Russian women were more productive due to fewer kitchen appliances.
Khrushchev’s speech and its consequences
His ‘secret speech’ in February 1956 stated his plans for destalinisation and a return to Lenin’s ideological approach. As a consequence, Hungary thought they were free of the USSR and revolt broke out, they thought they would get US support but they didn’t.
The Hungary Uprising and its consequences
Withdrawal of the Red Army and new gov. under Imry Nagy. However in November, when discussing leaving the Warsaw Pact, the Red Army returned killing 30,000 and 200,000 people were made refugees.
Warsaw Pact
Russian NATO started in 1955
Development of Berlin
Was a continued focus of tensions, the west had developed quickly, the east slower. Made the USSR look weak and a stream of people moved to the west. In Nov. Khrushchev gave an ultimatum, a peace treaty should be signed and the US should leave or the USSR would sign a treaty with the East. Nothing happened.
Paris Summit
May 1960 - The USSR announced they shot down the U-2 spy plane, showing a failure of open skies and the US increased their spying. They denied the plane was theirs before the Soviets showed him Gary Powers alive. The summit broke up and US lies were revealed.
The Space Race
1957 - Sputnik put into space
Nov 1958 - Sputnik 2
The US released Vanguard TV3 but it blew up after climbing 4ft, so they brought on Braun, a Nazi aerospace engineer who surrendered to the US and became a US citizen in 1955, to develop the Saturn rockets.
The Arms Race
1953 - The US and USSR both had hydrogen bombs
1957 - The US had 5543 nuclear weapons, compared to Russia who had 650.
The U-2 Crisis
May 1960 - The USSR shot down U-2 spy plane, Khrushchev believed Allen Dulles was responsible (not Eisenhower). The US said a weather plane had been lost. When Khrushchev produced the pilot, Gary Powers, alive, Eisenhower admitted he was spying.
Allen Dulles
Head of the CIA, brother of John Dulles.
