BRINKMANSHIP AND
EISENHOWER
CHAPTER 26, SECTION 4
THE HYDROGEN BOMB
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Define: Hydrogen Bomb
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When? 1950 – 52
Why?
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a. Fear of Soviet nuclear efforts
b. Desire to gain “nuclear advantage”
Truman approves research / development of bomb.
1st Test: 1952 detonation of an American H-Bomb
Problem?
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A thermonuclear device with the explosive power of 1
million tons of TNT.
Yes
1953, Soviets detonate their first H-Bomb
So What?

Nuclear balance is evened again
1952 Hydrogen Bomb Detonation
BRINKMANSHIP
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1952: Dwight D. Eisenhower elected
President
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Dulles’ foreign policy principle:
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Ike’s Sec. Of State: John Foster Dulles
Dulles: Staunch Anti-Communist
“BRINKMANSHIP”
Define: A willingness to go to the brink, or edge,
of war, especially nuclear war.
So What?

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The U.S. will keep the peace by promising to use
all it’s force, including nuclear weapons, against
any aggressor nations
Brinkmanship requires larger numbers of nuclear
weapons
So. . . THE ARMS RACE BEGINS
GENERAL
DWIGHT D.
EISENHOWER
World War II
DWIGHT D.
EISENHOWER,
PRESIDENT OF
THE U.S.,
1953 - 61
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John F. Dulles
Time, 1954
Sec. of State
THE COLD WAR SPREADS
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WHY?
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How do superpowers gain global power?
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Superpower rivalry; both want to dominate
global affairs
Both want to spread their own political &
economic systems
Both want access to more resources
Expand alliances
Prevent other superpower from doing the
same thing
How?

Conventional / Direct confrontation
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Example? “Conventional” War - Define
Covert / Indirect confrontation
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Examples?
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Spying
Aiding friendly revolutions
Helping overthrow unfriendly gov’ts.
THE COLD WAR SPREADS(CONT’D.)
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Who will do this effectively?
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Intelligence agencies; examples?
 C.I.A.
 Military Intelligence communities
Where?
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1953: IRAN – CIA helps overthrow Pres.
Mossadegh ; Shah of Iran takes over
 Why? Oil access
1954: GUATEMALA – CIA helps
overthrow Pres. Arbenz
 Why? Arbenz viewed as sympathetic
to communism
ATTEMPTS AT PEACE
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1953: Stalin dies
1955: Soviets form “Warsaw Pact”
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Define: Alliance of Eastern European Soviet
satellite nations.
1955: The Geneva Summit
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What? U.S. – Soviet meetings to discuss
issues of mutual concern.
Ike proposes an “Open Skies” Policy
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Soviets reject offer; Why?
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Define: Both nations would allow flights over
their territory to guard against surprise nuclear
attack
Soviets fear a U.S. trick to discover where Soviet
nuclear weapons are
So What?
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Lack of trust worsens superpower tension
THE WARSAW PACT
OTHER FLASHPOINTS
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1956: Egypt: The Suez Crisis
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1956: Hungary
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U.S. backs a Brit.-French-Israel takeover of the
Suez Canal
Why? Egypt growing too friendly w/USSR
Soviets invade Hungary
Why? Gov’t has become too friendly w/Western
European nations
U.S. decides not to intervene ; risk is too high
and Suez Crisis take precedence
Result? The Eisenhower Doctrine

Define: U.S. would give aid to any Middle
Eastern nation threatened by any
Communist aggression/expansion
U.S. EMBARRASSMENTS
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1957: Soviets launch Sputnik I
SO WHAT?
1960: U-2 Spyplane shot down
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Pilot: Francis Gary Powers captured
& tried for espionage
Embarrassment for U.S.
SO WHAT? The Cold War heats up
SPUTNIK I
U-2 SPYPLANE
Frances
Gary Powers
USAF, 1950’s
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POWERS WITH U-2, PRE-FLIGHT