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Eisenhower's Rollback Strategy: Cold War Policies and Global Realpolitik

Explore the complex dynamics of U.S. foreign policy during the Eisenhower era (1953-61), focusing on containment, rollback, and conflicts such as Korea and the Suez Crisis. Uncover the challenges faced by Eisenhower in balancing military power and diplomatic initiatives against the backdrop of Cold War tensions.

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Eisenhower's Rollback Strategy: Cold War Policies and Global Realpolitik

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  1. POLI 314: U.S. Foreign Policy Dr. Kevin Lasher

  2. The Eisenhower Era, 1953-61

  3. Campaign of 1952 Truman “soft” on communism Lost China; not winning in Korea Domestic McCarthyism Ike surrogates attack Truman record

  4. Rollback/Liberation JF Dulles: “Containment is negative, futile, and immoral.” JF Dulles: “Genuine independence in the nations of Europe and Asia now dominated by Moscow”

  5. Rollback/Liberation Western Christendom vs. Godless communism Return to American moralism Liberate countries under Soviet domination (HOW ?)

  6. Rollback/Liberation Was this anything but rhetoric? An effort (successful) at “rolling back” the Democrats from the White House?

  7. Brinksmanship Must be willing to go to the brink of war, including nuclear war, in order to convince Soviets to back down.

  8. Eisenhower’s Goals End Korean war, pursue containment/rollback, reduce defense spending, balance budget, butter over guns US should pursue Cold War without becoming a “garrison state”

  9. Eisenhower’s New Look • Massive retaliation • Covert action • Alliances – try to replicate NATO success with SEATO, CENTO, ANZUS, Rio Pact, bilateral treaties with Japan, South Korea, others

  10. Massive Retaliation Threaten any/all communist aggression with all-out nuclear attack Leave USSR “a smoking, radiating ruin at the end of two hours” US could destroy USSR with impunity from 1953-55

  11. Massive Retaliation Ike emphasizes US nuclear arsenal, including tactical nuclear weapons Ike reduces spending from $53 billion to $35-40 billion By end of 1950s Kissinger says “suicide or surrender”

  12. Containment Continues • Vietnam divided at 17th parallel • Taiwan crises of 1954/55 and 1958 • Suez Crisis • Iran and Guatemala • Eastern Europe – Poland and Hungary • Berlin Crisis II • Early détente with USSR

  13. Vietnam, 1950s • Vietnam divided into communist North and anti-communist South after French defeated in 1954 • US tries to create a viable South Vietnam with aid, but no troops • Some consideration of using American troops, but Ike rejects • “Holding action” until 1960s

  14. Taiwan, 1954/55 & 1958 • PRC attacks Taiwanese islands of Quemoy and Matsu • Fears of PRC attack on Taiwan and war between US and China • US “threatens” atomic attack on China in 1955; Dulles says 50/50 chance of war with China • Both crises fade away with no real conclusion

  15. Suez Crisis, 1956 • July 1956 Egyptian President Nasser nationalizes Suez Canal • British, French and Israeli forces attack Egypt in October /November 1956 in effort to regain control of canal • USA pressures three allies to withdraw their forces from Egypt • Soviet leader Khrushchev promises to provide assistance to Egypt and threatens Britain and France with nuclear attack

  16. Suez Crisis, 1956 • British, French, Israeli forces withdraw under US/UN pressure • Suez Crisis at same time as Hungarian Revolution; distracts world attention from Soviet actions in Hungary • Egypt not communist but moves closer to USSR following crisis • US loses influence in Egypt despite convincing its allies to end military assault

  17. Iran, 1953 & Guatemala, 1954 • CIA-led paramilitary covert actions to replace “left-leaning” governments with anti-communist regimes friendly to US economic interests • Successful? • Led to a dangerous pattern of CIA involvement in promoting/protecting right-wing governments

  18. Nikita Khrushchev, 1953-64 • Nikita Khrushchev emerges as new Soviet leader after post-Stalin power struggle • Begins “moderate” reforms of Soviet system • “Secret speech” in 1956 in which he criticizes some of Stalin’s crimes against Soviet people • USSR abandons worst of Stalinist system

  19. Nikita Khrushchev: Eastern Europe • What do Khrushchev’s reforms mean for Soviet control of Eastern Europe? • Most leaders put into power by Stalin • How much reform would Khrushchev allow in Eastern Europe?

  20. Poland, 1956 • Protests with 54 killed by Polish Army • USSR considers invasion; Poles say they will resist • Crisis resolved with selection of “liberal communist” Gomulka as party leader • US takes no action

  21. Hungary, 1956 • Protests turn into effort to overthrow communist govt. • Liberal communist Imre Nagy calls for multiparty elections, leaving WTO, neutrality, UN help • Radio Free Europe encourages uprising

  22. Hungary, 1956 • After some hesitation, Soviet troops invade Hungary and crush uprising • Nagy arrested and executed in Moscow • 2500-3000 Hungarians killed • US does not intervene, roll-back is a sham • Soviet control reestablished

  23. Berlin II, 1958-61 • East Germans flee to the West via Berlin; 3,000,000 by 1960 • Nov. 1958 Khrushchev demands “free Berlin” in six months • Negotiations reach no conclusion • Khrushchev rescinds ultimatum and visits US

  24. Berlin II, 1958-61 • Paris Summit in Spring 1960 to discuss Berlin and other issues • Summit breaks up over U-2 spy plane “incident” • Khrushchev gives new ultimatum to President Kennedy • Soviets and GDR build Berlin Wall in 1961 • Kennedy “allows” wall to go forward

  25. Berlin II, 1958-61 • Berlin Wall is “good” for both sides • Soviets stop “de-population” of GDR • West is handed powerful symbol of communist oppression • US and USSR continuing to learn how to “manage” their relationship

  26. Early Détente (Relaxation of Tensions)

  27. Early Détente: Why? • Khrushchev’s reforms and “peaceful coexistence” • Hydrogen bombs far worse than atom bombs • Soviet bomber capability and development of ICBMs • US (and Soviet?) budget constraints • Conflict between USSR and China • Emergence of cold war “status quo”

  28. Early Détente: What? • 1955 Austria Neutrality treaty • 1955 Geneva Summit • 1959 Geneva Summit on Berlin • 1959 Khrushchev visits US (Eisenhower ’s trip to USSR is cancelled) • 1960 Paris Summit (U-2 disaster) • Arms control talks (no real progress) • Three-year informal ban on nuclear testing • Change in rhetoric

  29. Eisenhower “Ironies” 1) Criticized Democrats; criticized by Democrats in 1960 2) Criticized Truman containment and called for rollback; regularized policy of containment 3) Military man; cut defense spending 4) Massive retaliation; early détente with USSR 5) Brinksmanship; compromise - no major wars or military engagements

  30. Kennedy’s Cold War, 1961-63 “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.   This much we pledge—and more.” Inaugural Address, 1961

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