The Age of Eisenhower: America and the World in the 1950s

William I Hitchcock's account of Dwight Eisenhower's presidency draws on newly declassified documents and unpublished material to examine how Eisenhower guided the nation through major crises of the 1950s, including McCarthyism, the Korean War, civil rights issues, and Cold War conflicts. The book portrays Eisenhower as a skilled leader who navigated between partisan divides despite his conservative leanings. Domestically, Eisenhower upheld New Deal programs like Social Security, opposed Senator Joseph McCarthy's tactics, and supported civil rights for African-Americans. In foreign policy, he ended the Korean War and avoided escalation in Vietnam, while simultaneously expanding America's missile technology and conducting covert operations worldwide to counter communism. Upon leaving office, he warned against the dangers of the military-industrial complex. The book examines why presidential historians now rank Eisenhower fifth among great presidents, presenting him as a leader of humble origins who used his authority to advance American welfare.