Source: Jim Newton, Eisenhower: The White House Years, 2011
What follows is a some of the things I learned reading the section of Jim Newton's biography on Ike's first term in office (1953 - 1957) . . .
* Starting in 1951, Eisenhower was courted by both major parties, but it became obvious that his political philosophy matched the Republicans far more than the Democrats at the time.
Ike believed in a "Middle Road" approach to politics, which was an outgrowth from his
many years serving his nation in the military. When he finally was convinced to confirm
his candidacy, he actually was not the favorite to win the Republican nomination in 1952.
The favorite was Robert Taft (President Taft's son, and one of the most respected senators
in U.S. History), who, by using convention rules that favored him, was almost guaranteed
the nomination in terms of delegates. But Ike's advisers succeeded in removing key rules
(e.g. settling which contested delegates from certain states would vote) in order to make
the process far more equitable. Eisenhower secured the hard-fought nomination, and then
faced the Democratic nominee, Adlai Stevenson, in the general election. Eisenhower,
unsure about his popularity, campaigned hard, traveling across the nation - this was also
the first presidential election to feature campaign commercials on television. Ike
defeated Stevenson by a large margin in 1952; his popularity remained high during both
terms in office, rarely dipping below 70% in terms of approval from popularity polls.
* Ike had a love affair with covert affairs - successful "regime changes" in Iran and
Guatemala, spearheaded by the CIA, convinced Ike that covert strategies were a useful
and necessary tool in order to contain Communism. In Iran, Eisenhower encouraged
the efforts to remove Mohammed Mosaddegh from power; he was viewed as not only
unfriendly to U.S. interests in the Middle East, but also as a leader that just very well may
hold the door open for the USSR to enter, and dominate the region. Iran was viewed as
a strategic lynch-pin for the U.S. in containing the USSR, and as far as Eisenhower &
his advisers were concerned, Mosaddegh had to be removed. In effect, the CIA created a
political atmosphere in Iran that made it impossible for Masaddegh to stay in power,
opening the door for a leader that was far-more friendly to U.S. interests, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi . . . the Shah of Iran. This regime change had a long-term consequence, in that
when the U.S. placed the Shah in power, an Islamic religious leader started to view the
U.S. in an extremely unfavorable light - the Ayatollah Khomeini entered the political
landscape in Iran.
In Guatemala, Ike also favored regime change; it was perceived that a Communist was in
power in that Central American nation, and unlike in Iran, he was much easier to remove
from power. The long-term consequence of this regime change featured another person
that resented U.S. influence in the region, a 26 year-old who became a force to be reckoned
with soon enough in Latin America - Che Guevera
* Ike labeled his foreign policy in dealing with Communism (especially the USSR), the
"New Look". It featured three parts: a) Containment - continue Truman's foreign policy;
b) Deterrence - not only stay ahead of the USSR in terms of nuclear weapons, but also be
very clear that the U.S. intended to use them if sufficiently provoked (Mao Tse-Tung was
the recipient of more than one of those threats from Eisenhower); c) "Roll-Back" - Ike
wanted to take back some of Communist Eastern Europe that was in the Soviet Union Bloc;
he had high hopes that covert operations could build enough resistance in nations such as
Poland, where the USSR would hopefully tire of the increased political resistance, and leave
Poland to its own affairs.
* Richard Nixon was Eisenhower's Vice-President for both terms, but he was never part of
Ike's inner circle (what Ike, and some in the media called, "The Gang"). Nixon lost quite a
bit of political capital in Ike's eyes during the investigation of financial shenanigans after
he was named Ike's VP candidate (Nixon saved his spot on the ticket, as well as his
political future, with his famous televised "Checkers" Speech). Ike never really distrusted
Nixon; it appeared that he just didn't think Nixon was politically seasoned or talented
enough to be an important adviser, or a future President of the United States. When Ike
decided to run again in 1956, he left Nixon politically hanging for months, never really
committing to him as his Vice-President until the eve of the Republican National
Convention.
* Starting in 1951, Eisenhower was courted by both major parties, but it became obvious that his political philosophy matched the Republicans far more than the Democrats at the time.
Ike believed in a "Middle Road" approach to politics, which was an outgrowth from his
many years serving his nation in the military. When he finally was convinced to confirm
his candidacy, he actually was not the favorite to win the Republican nomination in 1952.
The favorite was Robert Taft (President Taft's son, and one of the most respected senators
in U.S. History), who, by using convention rules that favored him, was almost guaranteed
the nomination in terms of delegates. But Ike's advisers succeeded in removing key rules
(e.g. settling which contested delegates from certain states would vote) in order to make
the process far more equitable. Eisenhower secured the hard-fought nomination, and then
faced the Democratic nominee, Adlai Stevenson, in the general election. Eisenhower,
unsure about his popularity, campaigned hard, traveling across the nation - this was also
the first presidential election to feature campaign commercials on television. Ike
defeated Stevenson by a large margin in 1952; his popularity remained high during both
terms in office, rarely dipping below 70% in terms of approval from popularity polls.
* Ike had a love affair with covert affairs - successful "regime changes" in Iran and
Guatemala, spearheaded by the CIA, convinced Ike that covert strategies were a useful
and necessary tool in order to contain Communism. In Iran, Eisenhower encouraged
the efforts to remove Mohammed Mosaddegh from power; he was viewed as not only
unfriendly to U.S. interests in the Middle East, but also as a leader that just very well may
hold the door open for the USSR to enter, and dominate the region. Iran was viewed as
a strategic lynch-pin for the U.S. in containing the USSR, and as far as Eisenhower &
his advisers were concerned, Mosaddegh had to be removed. In effect, the CIA created a
political atmosphere in Iran that made it impossible for Masaddegh to stay in power,
opening the door for a leader that was far-more friendly to U.S. interests, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi . . . the Shah of Iran. This regime change had a long-term consequence, in that
when the U.S. placed the Shah in power, an Islamic religious leader started to view the
U.S. in an extremely unfavorable light - the Ayatollah Khomeini entered the political
landscape in Iran.
In Guatemala, Ike also favored regime change; it was perceived that a Communist was in
power in that Central American nation, and unlike in Iran, he was much easier to remove
from power. The long-term consequence of this regime change featured another person
that resented U.S. influence in the region, a 26 year-old who became a force to be reckoned
with soon enough in Latin America - Che Guevera
* Ike labeled his foreign policy in dealing with Communism (especially the USSR), the
"New Look". It featured three parts: a) Containment - continue Truman's foreign policy;
b) Deterrence - not only stay ahead of the USSR in terms of nuclear weapons, but also be
very clear that the U.S. intended to use them if sufficiently provoked (Mao Tse-Tung was
the recipient of more than one of those threats from Eisenhower); c) "Roll-Back" - Ike
wanted to take back some of Communist Eastern Europe that was in the Soviet Union Bloc;
he had high hopes that covert operations could build enough resistance in nations such as
Poland, where the USSR would hopefully tire of the increased political resistance, and leave
Poland to its own affairs.
* Richard Nixon was Eisenhower's Vice-President for both terms, but he was never part of
Ike's inner circle (what Ike, and some in the media called, "The Gang"). Nixon lost quite a
bit of political capital in Ike's eyes during the investigation of financial shenanigans after
he was named Ike's VP candidate (Nixon saved his spot on the ticket, as well as his
political future, with his famous televised "Checkers" Speech). Ike never really distrusted
Nixon; it appeared that he just didn't think Nixon was politically seasoned or talented
enough to be an important adviser, or a future President of the United States. When Ike
decided to run again in 1956, he left Nixon politically hanging for months, never really
committing to him as his Vice-President until the eve of the Republican National
Convention.
* By 1954, President Eisenhower had enough of Senator Joseph McCarthy's (Wisc.)
attempts at exposing loyalty and security risks in the federal government; when McCarthy
started to claim that the U.S. Army was coddling Communists, it was too much for
the former general to bear. What you see above is the U.S. Army's counsel, Joseph
Welch (one of Ike's favorite people), embarrassing, but more importantly, exposing
McCarthy as a bully - no one had really stood up to McCarthy before . . . no one dared.
Ike had successfully maneuvered McCarthy into not only conducting a Congressional
hearing concerning the Army, but also to televise those hearings; millions watched the
"Army-McCarthy Hearings" in lieu of the afternoon soap operas. Once Welch stood up
to McCarthy, in a fashion and time encouraged by Ike, McCarthy's influence immediately
waned; no longer was he as feared, and soon enough, McCarthy was even censored
in the Senate.
* Eisenhower had health problems, most chronically, Crohn's Disease (severe intestinal
cramps and pain - it is a very debilitating disease). The most severe of Ike's medical
episodes was also the most covered-up - Ike's heart attack late in his first term. Shortly
after midnight, Ike awoke, complaining of a variety of ailments (he wasn't himself all day),
and his wife, Mamie, called for his personal physician, Dr. Howard Snyder (also a personal
friend). Why Dr. Snyder didn't immediately diagnose the heart attack is unknown - he
tried numerous strategies to help his patient, but nothing worked. Eisenhower, who by
then was well into his sixties, lied down, with Mamie holding him, trying to keep him
calm - and Ike went back to sleep for several hours. It turns out that that period of
sleep saved his life; upon waking, he was taken to a hospital by ambulance, and properly
diagnosed as having a heart attack. Dr. Snyder, as one would expect, did all he could
to help Ike; he also did all he could to cover up his misdiagnosis, writing many unsolicited
letters to various parties, claiming that he did indeed immediately diagnose and treat Ike's
heart attack. Interestingly, Ike helped with the cover-up, insisting that all was well - Dr.
Snyder continued in his capacity as the President's doctor.
attempts at exposing loyalty and security risks in the federal government; when McCarthy
started to claim that the U.S. Army was coddling Communists, it was too much for
the former general to bear. What you see above is the U.S. Army's counsel, Joseph
Welch (one of Ike's favorite people), embarrassing, but more importantly, exposing
McCarthy as a bully - no one had really stood up to McCarthy before . . . no one dared.
Ike had successfully maneuvered McCarthy into not only conducting a Congressional
hearing concerning the Army, but also to televise those hearings; millions watched the
"Army-McCarthy Hearings" in lieu of the afternoon soap operas. Once Welch stood up
to McCarthy, in a fashion and time encouraged by Ike, McCarthy's influence immediately
waned; no longer was he as feared, and soon enough, McCarthy was even censored
in the Senate.
* Eisenhower had health problems, most chronically, Crohn's Disease (severe intestinal
cramps and pain - it is a very debilitating disease). The most severe of Ike's medical
episodes was also the most covered-up - Ike's heart attack late in his first term. Shortly
after midnight, Ike awoke, complaining of a variety of ailments (he wasn't himself all day),
and his wife, Mamie, called for his personal physician, Dr. Howard Snyder (also a personal
friend). Why Dr. Snyder didn't immediately diagnose the heart attack is unknown - he
tried numerous strategies to help his patient, but nothing worked. Eisenhower, who by
then was well into his sixties, lied down, with Mamie holding him, trying to keep him
calm - and Ike went back to sleep for several hours. It turns out that that period of
sleep saved his life; upon waking, he was taken to a hospital by ambulance, and properly
diagnosed as having a heart attack. Dr. Snyder, as one would expect, did all he could
to help Ike; he also did all he could to cover up his misdiagnosis, writing many unsolicited
letters to various parties, claiming that he did indeed immediately diagnose and treat Ike's
heart attack. Interestingly, Ike helped with the cover-up, insisting that all was well - Dr.
Snyder continued in his capacity as the President's doctor.
