Dichomtomy During Eisenhower History p5db - Essay Example

Running Head: Dichomtomy during Eisenhower Dichomtomy during Eisenhower Inserts His/Her Inserts Grade Customer Inserts Tutor's Name05 August 2009 The 1950s were the years of great political, social and economic transformations in America. This period can be seen as a base of future stability and national prosperity of several generations of the American people. In spite of controversial and debatable issues related to the President Eisenhower and his presidency, the 1950s were the best decade of the 29th century.

During this period of time, Eisenhower developed and maintained political doctrines and frameworks followed by all American presidents after him. The contribution of Eisenhower can be proved by his political strategies and unique approaches to relations with the rest of the world. Eisenhower perceived an international system dominated by a struggle between communist slavery and American freedom. This struggle was being fought in the Third World, an area dominated by the concept of nationalism.

Communism was taking advantage of this spirit of nationalism by attempting to separate the Third World from the West, thus insuring the enslavement of those nations in which the attempt succeeded. Further complicating this struggle was the blindness of America's Western European allies to the fact that they could not retain their empires in light of this nationalism. This made it extremely difficult for the United States to protect these areas since the Third World nations, wary of U.S. allies, were suspicious of U.S. motives.

Most importantly, Eisenhower believed that the United States had a moral obligation to protect these nations just as the U.S. government had a moral obligation to protect the individual liberties of its own citizens. The function of government was the same in both instances: to do for others what they could not do for themselves under the obligation of individual initiative. But how were these related to foreign policy outcomes Three examples should suffice to illustrate this relationship (Ambrose, 1999).

During 1950s, America overcame terror of the World War II and renewed its economy. It was the period of baby-boom and human rights movements. Eisenhower's perception of the distinction between government and politics was based on this understanding of the function of government. To him, there was only one correct solution to any problem. If there was opposition, it was either because those who opposed him did not have all the facts or because they were engaged in politics, which Eisenhower defined as the pursuit of selfish interests at the expense of the national interest.

The selfish interests permeating politics were totally unacceptable to him. Thus, we have the interesting assumption that government can and should be run without politics. In its stead, government should be run by a general consensus of principle (Wicker and Schlesinger 2002). One recurring notion of Eisenhower's politics of the 1950s is the belief that one must work toward the benefit of all instead of oneself. This notion was at the root of his dislike for politics. It also was at the root of his perception of public service roles.

Eisenhower viewed the Cabinet as a group of people who should represent the entire government, not just the interests of the department they headed. Eisenhower believed that the President was President of all the people. This statement, by itself, is not novel since all Presidents hold similar views. What is different is the implication Eisenhower drew from the belief. When he stated that the President was President of all the people, he meant that the President must remain above politics (Perret, 2002).

In sum, the 1950s created a new understanding of social problems and human rights supported by new vision of politics and peace. Before Eisenhower's presidency, the major problem in international relations had been the same short-sighted selfishness that plagued domestic politics. The solution, as Eisenhower saw it, was the same. The most important fact of international life, according to Eisenhower, was the existence of an "irreconcilable conflict between the theories of Communist dictatorship and the basic principles of free world existence.

" This moral foundation of government meant that the function of government must be interpreted in terms of helping the individual discharge his or her moral responsibilities. The contribution of Eisenhower is that this man established and introduced strict norms in political and forced the government to support American population in social, economic and private matters. ReferencesAmbrose, S. E. (1999). Eisenhower: Soldier and President (The Renowned One-Volume Life). Simon & Schuster. Perret, G. (2002). Eisenhower.

Adams Media Corporation. Wicker, T., Schlesinger Jr. A. M. (2002). Dwight D. Eisenhower. Times Books; 1st edition.