the eisenhower years section 16.3 smiling ike. why was eisenhower an unusual presidential candidate?...
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The Eisenhower Years
Section 16.3
Smiling Ike
Why was Eisenhower an unusual presidential candidate?
Ike, ecstatic, in victory parade
Why was Eisenhower an unusual presidential candidate?
• Supreme Allied Commander in Europe– Led D-Day invasion– Had never seen combat
• Never voted• Only began to study US
history/economics after the war
• Handpicked by Republicans because he was popular
Above: Ike exhorts the troops; below: Ike the candidate emerges from the campaign plane
Who was Ike’s Opponent in the 1952 presidential election?
• Adlai E. Stevenson of Illinois
– A liberal intellectual
– Eloquent speaker but seemed out of touch with common people
– Called “egghead” by Republicans
– Tainted with Truman’s unpopularity
Above: Adlai Stevenson; below: Stevenson accepts his party’s nomination
Who was Ike’s Running mate and what was the “Checkers” speech?
• Richard M. Nixon• Experienced politician and
reputation of communist fighter – Pumpkin Papers
• Accused of accepting illegal campaign contributions which paid for a luxurious lifestyle
• Nix went on TV and denied accusation
• Admitted to accepting one gift – A dog named Checkers
• Convinced Americans that he would be an honest vice president
Above: Nixon giving Checkers speech; below: Nixon with Checkers
Checkers
Nixon giving Checkers speech
Describe Ike’s Campaign.• Organized and efficient
• Speeches full of platitudes
– We’re going to “clean up the mess in Washington”
• Promised to end Korean War
• “We Like Ike”
• Won a landslide victory
Above and below: Ike campaign posters
Eisenhower Wins!
Describe Eisenhower’s style of management.• Consensus decision making
– Based on group (cabinet) decisions, not just his own
• Delegated – Ike only focused on big picture issues– Left the details and execution to others
• Admired Business Principles– Corporate execs appointed to key posts– Somewhat laissez-faire
• Privatization– Tried to turn government control of TVA
to private business– Atomic Energy Act of 1954
• Allowed private companies to operate nuclear power plants
Above: Cabinet meeting in Eisenhower administration; below: nuclear power plants
Ike as President
Capture: Huge crowd for Ike
Describe Ike’s Second Term.• Democrats regained control of
Congress (’56)
• Launched Explorer I (1/31/58)
– 4 months after Sputnik
• Created National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• National Highway Act (’56)
– Costs $80 billion
• Extended Social Security and Unemployment insurance
• Increased minimum wage (.75 to $1)
Above: U.S. rocket; below: incredibly aged and sad Eisenhower
Ike’s Second Term
Ike waves and smiles over economic policy
Ike’s Farewell Address• Farwell address warned
against the influence of the military industrial complex
• 2007 $626.1 billion– Includes military budget of
Department of Defense– War in Iraq– Nuclear weapons research– Infrastructure of military
bases• 47% of the World’s Total
military spendingGraph shows growth of government
Who were the candidates in the 1960 election?
• Richard M. Nixon
– Republican
– Protestant
– Came from Common background
– anticommunist politician
– War hero
– Experienced politician
• John F. Kennedy
– Democrat
– Catholic
– Came from wealth and privilege
– anticommunist
– War hero
– Seemed much younger
Why were the Nixon-Kennedy Debates important in the 1960 election?
• 1st presidential debate ever• Kennedy looked better on TV
– Wore make-up– Looked polished
• Nixon– Sweating problem, leg injury
• Radio listeners thought Nix won
• Closest election in history– Kennedy won by about 100
thousand votes (69 million casts)
Above: Nixon shakes JFK’s hand before debate; below: during one of the debates
The Election of 1960
JFK campaigns
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