First published 2018
Dwight D. Eisenhower commanded global attention from 1953 to 1961, yet many dismissed him as a "do-nothing" president. Historian William Hitchcock challenges this view through extensive research in declassified files from the Eisenhower Library, CIA, and Defense Department. Hitchcock demonstrates how the former general achieved remarkable feats: he concluded the Korean War, avoided conflict in Vietnam, managed tensions with China, and improved Soviet relations after Stalin died. Domestically, Eisenhower led Republicans to accept New Deal programs like Social Security, countered McCarthy's extremism, and promoted civil rights for African Americans. He simultaneously expanded military capabilities, developed nuclear weapons, and initiated the space program as Cold War strategy. His Farewell Address warned against the "military-industrial complex" while acknowledging America's need for strong defense. Hitchcock examines Eisenhower's key advisors, including Attorney General Brownell and Secretary of State Dulles, showing how this administration fundamentally influenced modern America. Presidential historians now rank Eisenhower fifth among all presidents, behind only Lincoln, Washington, and both Roosevelts.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, political-science, non-fiction, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-fiction, political-drama
Setting: America, Vietnam, China, Soviet Union
Period: 1953-1961, Cold War
672 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster