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- Republican
- honourable
- affable
- gregarious
- soldier who commanded respect and inspired confidence in troops
- little interest in politics in his early life
- little experience in politics
- Dynamic conservatism (conservative to money, liberal to humans)- he recognised popularity of FDRS 'New Deal'- kick starting the economy- he did same- highway system etc (in strengths)
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- 1952 one landslide victory in the election
- ended 20 years of democratic presidency
- defeated Adlai Stevenson
- ran with Nixon who had experience- balanced the ticket and offset his inexperience
- ignored Stevenson and attacked Truman
- promise to go to Korea and end the war
- took largest percentage of popular vote then any other republican candidate
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- successful first term- economic growth- consumer boom
- ended Korean War- made him favourite in 1956 election (despite heart attack in 1955)
- in run up to 1956 he dealt with crises in both Hungary and Egypt- quality and calm leadership
- dealings with McCarthy and Civil rights could have been improved
- Domestic Policies were largely successful
- balancing the budget was achieved and lowered inflation
- 2 civil rights acts
- only 10 of 83 bills were rejected
- developed relationship with Church and Religious leaders and the church (US previously secular state)- national days of prayer- featured for rest of century
- created Department of Health Education and Welfare
- expansion of social security benefit to cover 10 million
- increase min wage to 25%
- $500 million available for low income public housing (insufficient but showed he cared)
- Federal Aid Highway Act 19576- 41000 miles of interstate highways
- soil bank
- admitted Alaska and Hawaii as states
- 2 civil rights acts 1957 and 1960
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- didn't defend Marshall from McCarthy, Marshall was more of a hero than him
- democrats retained control of Congress which they secured in mid terms in 1954
- first president to not have majority inn House or Senate
- faced 3 recessions so management wasn't great
- dealings with McCarthy and Civil Rights could have been improved
- some in congress argued that he didn't use his powers to ensure justice and individual freedom
- performed badly in midterm elections 1958
- blamed for 2nd recession and perceived defeat in the space race- SU- Sputnik satellite October 1957, 'Laika' first dog, November 1957
- domestic spending rose from 31 to 45% in 1961- had promised to reduce spending
- 1/4 in poverty
- Nixon brought in tension with the media, and rumours of corruption that jarred Ikes promise that his Admin would be 'clean as a hounds tooth'. Accusations he used $18000 of political donations for personal use- got out of it by televising a speech explaining his actions-'Checkers Speech' - good public response- Ike kept him on.
- Nixon influence over the GOP which likely led to failure of Ikes 'Modern Republicanism' to become the long term party platform
- The loss of both houses 1954 kept republican party from control of the senate till 1980 and House till 1994
- Voters liked Ike, but he ignored them which led to backlash and conservative republicans coming to the fore.
- Ike's war hero status protected him from McCarthy- half of pop in favour of McCarthy, Ike feared direct confrontation would weaken his prestige or turn to McCarthy's advantage
- McCarthy held televised hearing on communist influence in the Army-Ike outraged- Joselph Welch (lawyer for the army)- 'have you no sense of decency,sir, at long last'- destroyed his rep
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