The Debate Surrounding Eisenhower’s Foreign Policy

Cold War - Eisenhower, 1953-1961

In this course, Professor Kenneth Osgood (Colorado School of Mines) looks at the role of President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Cold War. In the first module, we look at the debate surrounding Eisenhower’s foreign policy, considering both the changing opinions regarding his presidency, and the differing historical assessments of Eisenhower’s leadership and role in the Cold War. In the second module, we consider Eisenhower’s response to communism, before in the third module turning to look at how Eisenhower managed the issue of American National Security. In the fourth module, we ask whether Eisenhower worked for peace, or, if rather he perpetuated the Cold War? Finally, in the fifth module, we turn to look at the Central Intelligence Agency, and ask the question, was the CIA a rogue elephant?

The Debate Surrounding Eisenhower’s Foreign Policy

In this lecture, we look at the debate surrounding Eisenhower’s foreign policy, focusing in particular on: (i) the changing assessments of Eisenhower himself, including his overshadowing by the youthful President John F. Kennedy (1917-63), the elevation of Eisenhower’s presidency during the Vietnam War (1945-75), the further rise of opinion during the presidency of Ronald Reagan (1981-89), and the even greater aggrandisement of Eisenhower during the presidency of Donald Trump (2017-21); and (ii) historical assessments of Eisenhower, including the question of Eisenhower’s leadership and the question of his role in the Cold War.