IB History Eisenhower and Dulles Notes

President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953–1961)

Background

• Former World War II general Dwight D. Eisenhower became president in 1953, promising to protect U.S. security while reducing military costs.
• He viewed communism as a global threat, but believed total war with the Soviet Union must be avoided.
• His main foreign policy aim was containment through strength and deterrence, balancing defense and diplomacy.
• Eisenhower and his Secretary of State John Foster Dulles introduced the “New Look” policy, emphasizing nuclear power and alliances rather than large ground forces.

Key Policies and Actions

• Promoted “massive retaliation” (the idea that the U.S. would respond to any aggression with overwhelming nuclear force.)
• Encouraged alliances such as SEATO (1954) and CENTO (1955) to encircle the Soviet Union and limit communist expansion.
• Used covert operations led by the CIA to overthrow governments seen as communist threats, such as Iran (1953)and Guatemala (1954).
• Managed key Cold War crises, including the Taiwan Strait Crises (1954–1955) and the U-2 Spy Plane Incident (1960), which damaged U.S.–Soviet relations.

Impact and Legacy

• Eisenhower maintained peace between superpowers while expanding U.S. global influence through diplomacy and covert power.
• His policies intensified the arms race and deepened Cold War tensions, especially after the U-2 incident.
• In the Americas, his administration increased U.S. intervention in Latin America, reinforcing anti-communist regimes and long-term distrust of U.S. policy.
• At home, Eisenhower’s balance between security and prosperity left the U.S. stable and economically strong, though critics argued he relied too heavily on nuclear deterrence.