The Eisenhower Era: 1952-1960

• The Eisenhower Era spanned from 1952 to 1960.

Eisenhower's Presidency

• Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidency was seen as a period of calm sought by Americans after years of depression and war.
• Despite the desire for peace, the US remained entangled in the Cold War and domestic issues like communism and civil rights.
• Eisenhower, nicknamed "Ike," provided a reassuring leadership style during this time.

Affluence and Anxieties in the 1950s

• The post-World War II economic boom led to significant societal changes.
• Home construction surged, marking a shift towards a nation of homeowners, with suburban areas growing rapidly.
• Science and technology became major drivers of economic growth.
• The invention of the transistor in 1948 brought electronics such as the computer into the spotlight.
• Early computers were large and complex, but transistors and printed circuits led to miniaturization and increased speed.
• IBM became a leading "high-tech" corporation in the emerging "information age."
• Computers revolutionized business practices and opened new possibilities in various fields.
• The aerospace industry experienced substantial growth due to Eisenhower's emphasis on the Strategic Air Command, expansion of passenger airlines, and military-civilian connections.
• In 1957, Boeing introduced the 707, the first large passenger jet, influenced by the B-52 bomber design.
• Eisenhower received the first presidential jet, a modified 707 known as "Air Force One."

Workforce Evolution

• "White-collar" workers outnumbered "blue-collar" workers for the first time in 1956, indicating a shift toward a service-based economy.
• Organized labor declined as smokestack industries faded, with union membership decreasing.

Opportunities for Women

• The surge in white-collar jobs created new opportunities for women.
• Many women who worked during WWII returned to traditional roles, contributing to the "baby boom".
• Popular culture reinforced the "cult of domesticity", portraying idyllic suburban families, but change was on the horizon.
• Most of the 40 million jobs created after 1950 were in clerical and service sectors, largely filled by women.
• The rise in women's employment led to a “pink-collar ghetto" of female-dominated occupations.

Social and Psychological Effects

• Women entering the workforce led to social and psychological shifts.
• This shift raised questions about family life and gender roles.
• Betty Friedan's book, "The Feminine Mystique" (1963), gave a voice to women's feelings, criticizing suburban housewifery.
• Many women balanced working with guilt and frustration due to the "cult of domesticity."

Consumerism in the 1950s

• Expansion of the middle class and the growth of consumer culture defined the 1950s.
• Diner's Club introduced the credit card, while McDonald's opened its first "fast-food" hamburger stand.
• Disneyland is opened in 1955.
• Easy credit, "fast-food," and leisure activities became hallmarks of an emerging lifestyle.
• Manufacturers and advertisers spread American consumer capitalism throughout the non-communist world.
• Television became a crucial technology, with a rapid increase in the number of broadcasting stations.
• The number of TV sets in American homes grew exponentially.
• The entertainment industry shifted towards television, with advertisers spending heavily on TV ads.
• Critics worried about television's impact on public standards.
• Religion used television with "televangelists" like Billy Graham, Oral Roberts, and Fulton J. Sheen.
• Professional sports was promoted on television, reaching mass audiences.

Cultural shifts in the 1950s

• Sports reflected population movement towards the West and South
• Baseball's Giants moved to San Francisco, and the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles.
• The shift was reflected in the Western and Southern movement of sports franchises.
• These movements led to an expansion of leagues.
• The music underwent dramatic transformation.
• Elvis Presley is responsible, fusing rhythm and blues, bluegrass and country.
• This was known as Rock 'n' Roll.
• Traditionlists were repelled by traditionalists of the time.
• Marilyn Monroe popularized new standards for sensuality.
• This has been further reiterated by magazine such as Playboy.
• As a result, American were becoming free-spending consumers.
• Critics lamented the consumerist lifestyle.
• Harvard sociologist David Riesman wrote The Lonely Crowd on postwar generation conformists.
• Sloan Wilson explored a similar theme in The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1955).
• Harvard economist John Kenneth Galbraith questioned the gap between private sector wealth and public wealth.
• The explosion produced a troublesome production of private opulence and public squalor.

The Advent of Eisenhower

• Democratic prospects in the 1952 election had a military deadlock and Whistle House scandal.
• Eisenhower was already the most popular man of his time.
• "I Like Ike" buttons were seen everywhere.
• He left the job of campaigning to Richard M. Nixon, who attacked opponents, calling them corrupt and communist.
• Nixon faltered after accepting illegal donations, but saved his spot with a self-pitying live address in television.
• This Checkers Speech saved his spot, and spotlighted a monumental change in America now that they could speak more freely.

The Election of 1952

• Eisenhower was featured on advertised short spots that simplified issues.
• Voters declared Eisenhower at 33,936,234 votes to Stevenson's 27,314,992.
• Ike won 442 electoral votes to 89 for his opponent.
• Eisenhower made a visit to Korea in Dec 1952 to end war.
• After seven long months later it was signed that he would use atomic weapons.
• The fighting lasted three years.
• They agreed to end the fighting by the conditions of 1950.
• The shooting had ended, but the cold war had frigidly frozen.
• Eisenhower portrayed himself as sincere and fair.
• Many saw him as unpolitical.

The Rise and Fall of Joseph McCarthy

• Eisenhower faced the popularity of anticommunist crusader Joseph R. McCarthy.
• McCarthy crashed in the light accusing Dean Acheson of employing communist members.
• His rhetoric grew more as his accusations rose after Republican victory.
• McCarthy spread red scare through America.
• McCarthyist flourished in the seething Cold War atmosphere.
• He didn't do damage to America's Traditions of fair play and free speech.
• Careers of officials and actors were ruined.
• Politicians trembled by such onslaughts.
• He was eventually condemned.

Desegregating American Society

• America counted 15 million black citizens in 1950.
• They lived in the South, bound by folkways of a segregated society.
• The Jim Crow laws all were governed for all aspects of existence of this area.
• Black were compelled to be separated from everything.
• Vigilante violence was also apparent.
• Six black war veterans were murdered in the summer of 1946.
• Emmelt Till was lynched for allegedly leering at a woman.
• Clergy said "Everywhere I go in the South, the negro is forced to choose between his hide and soul".
• Segregation tarnished America's international image.
• Paul Robeson and and Josephine Baker toured to tell about the horrors of Jim Crow and the reputation of anti-communism.
• Gunnar Myrdal had published American Dilemma.
• These articles all brought about a change in perspective for Americans.
• Jackie Robinson cracked baseball's color barrier.
• NAACP was pushed in the Supremes Court.
• The National Conscience slowly awoken.
• Rosa Parks refused to give up seat, sparking massive boycotts.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Became the champion of the downtrodden and disfranchised

Seeds of the Revolution

• President Harry Truman ended segregation and ordered Equality and treatment in the armed races.
• Supreme Court took leadership in the issues.
• Earl Warren was the Chief of Justice who took action publicly.
• There was protest of "Impeach Earl Warren".
• The decision resulted from the Court's conclusion.
• The Border States made attempts to comply.
• Southern diehards organized "massive resistance"
• Several states diverted public funds for the creation schools.
• Eisenhower remained resistant to integration.
• He saw it as upsetting Customs and convictions.
• Orval Faubus mobilized the National Guard.
• Congress was forced to pass the first Civil Rights Act.
• Black too the civil rights movement into their own hands.
• The "sit-in" movement was spontaneous and rolled into the South.

Eisenhower Republicanism at Home

• The balding general Eisenhower Administration began with the philosophy of "dynamic conservatism".
• He strove to balance the federal budget.
• Put brakes on the massive military buildup.
• Also attempted to curb the TVA, encouraging private power.
• His secretary of health condemned distribution of Salk vaccine.
• Government relationship with Native Americans was also seen.
• Eisenhower sought to cancel tribal preservation.
• The "Indian New Deal" was in action in 1934.

Undertaking Operations

• In operation operation wetback he deported almost 1 million people.
• Cancelled a lot of Tribal Preservation.
• Had no choice to reverse it, instead signed a bunch of political security
• Supported unemployment insurance.
• Backed Federal Highway Act 0/1956 costing $27 bill.
• Also gave jobs to create the new roads.

Foreign Policy

• Eisenhower is Republican plan was called "New Look"
• Condemned just containment
• Eisenhower, is a secretary of state, promised just to "roll back".
• Was this implemented properly?
• The results were Illusory.
• In 1955 Eisenhower began negotiations with Soviet Masters.
• United States turned a deaf ear.

Vietnam and the Middle East

• Western Europe seemed somewhat secured yet
• Southeast Asia seemed like a can of worms.
• National movements were seeking a change.
• The United States was financial nearly 80%.
• They sought for France colonial was
• Secretary Dulles and Nixon both sought to help
• With bombers to aid
• Yet Eisenhower correct predicted this
• Eisenhower war
• There was a new policy of boldness.
• In part the United States won with French Approval.
• The cold war seemed a little bit of hot in 1955.
• When it came to Middle East oil the west tried to intervene.
• With the Iranian oil and American interference

Aftermath and the 1956 Election

• Nasser put the razor at the jugular.
• A joint assault in Egypt ended up placing a razor on Western oil supply:
• Eisenhower, though, was furious.
• And he kept the United States.
• In the Middle East he did a thing.
• The Eisenhower Doctrine
• The year 1956 was a replay
• Set is now to the final curtain.
• People like general

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