President Eisenhower: War on Soviets & Segregation

American History Hit

History Hit

America, History

4.5 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 13 March 2025

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Dwight D. Eisenhower is a fixture in the lists of America's favourite Presidents. How did Eisenhower change America? How did the Cold War and Civil Rights become intertwined in this period? What doomsday did Eisenhower foresee for America at the end of his time in office?

Don's guest today is Christopher Nichols, professor of history at The Ohio State University. Chris is working on a book about Eisenhower and the 1952 election.

Produced by Freddy Chick. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.

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All music from Epidemic Sounds.

American History Hit is a History Hit podcast.

Transcript

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1:02.3	January 17th, 1961, the White House. Though it will soon become a tradition among modern
1:10.4	presidencies, in the era of Dwight D. Eisenhower,
1:14.0	they are still an exception to the rule.
1:16.5	But on this, the eve of the inauguration of his successor, for President Dwight Eisenhower,
1:22.4	his feral address to the country has become an imperative.
1:26.2	After leading the nation to victory in World War II and serving a full two terms as its
1:30.9	commander-in-chief for the last eight years, one might expect this to be a glowing tribute to
1:35.9	his own administration's political success, a victory lap. But instead, this speech will have a darker,
1:42.6	more urgent and prescient tone.
1:45.9	A former five-star general means to warn his country of a clear and present danger to its existence.
1:53.0	So what is it?
1:54.6	This dire threat.
1:56.3	About who or what does Eisenhower wish to raise an alarm?
2:03.3	A communist adversary flexing its military might? The dreaded Democrats returning to executive power, ICBMs on their way from Russia.
	...

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