the eisenhower years section 16.3 smiling ike. why was eisenhower an unusual presidential candidate?...
TRANSCRIPT
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