Chapter 27 Notes, Part I (?)

I. The Eisenhower Presidency


A. Domestic Politics

1. McCarthy’s accusations, the stalemate in Korea, 20 years of Democratic Rule, and Eisenhower’s standing as a war hero easily allowed Republicans Eisenhower and Nixon to win the 1952 election over “egghead” Democrat Adlai Stevenson
2. Viewed as a return to peace and stability
3. Centrist who chose a path between Democratic liberalism and Republican conservatism
4. Restrained view of presidential authority- rarely intervened in legislative process (of course, Congress was Republican during his tenure).
5. Focused on balancing the federal budget; however, income tax reductions, minor recessions in ’53 and ’57, intensification of the cold war and arms race, as well as costly domestic programs (Interstate Highway System, St Lawrence Seaway, increased public housing and social security) led to growth of federal deficit from $257 billion in 950 to $291 billion by 1961
6. Ike disliked McCarthy but benefited from his rhetoric. Eventually, McCarthy antagonized the army (accused it of also being a haven for commies) leading to nationally televised Senate hearings in which the country got to see McCarthy at his worst. He was censured in 1954; died in 1957

B. Civil rights in the 50s
1. Eisenhower appointed Earl Warren as Chief Justice in 1953. The Warren Court would prove to be very proactive on Civil Rights legislation
2. Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka- The Court unanimously ruled that separate was inherently unequal in education, thus reversing the 1896 Plessy vs. Ferguson decision. The Court called for gradual school desegregation.
3. Desegregation began to occur in the upper south; however in the Deep South, politicians and the public were bitterly opposed to it
4. Little Rock Nine (1957) nine African American students attempted to attend classes at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Arkansas Governor called out the National Guard to block the students from entering the building. In response, Eisenhower sent federal troops to ensure the safety of the nine African American students. 90% of white Americans outside the South approved of Eisenhower’s action, lending support to the Civil Rights movement.
5. Civil Rights Act of 1957 and 1960- Proposed by Eisenhower, established a commission to investigate the systemic disenfranchisement of African Americans in the South.
6. Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-56)- led by the Rev Martin Luther King Jr, after Rosa Parks effused to give up her seat to a white passenger. Dr King organized a year long bus boycott which led the Supreme Court to outlaw segregation in buses (Browder v Gayle, 1959)