Eisenhower, Dulles & 'brinkmanship'

Question 1

How was policy affected when Eisenhower took over from Truman?

Answer 1

Much continuity of policy
-US must retain sufficient influence in Western Europe
-US must retain influence in Asia
-Soviet threat significant and real
-US must retain strong nuclear arsenal and conventional forces

Question 2

What was different in Eisenhower’s aims in comparison to Truman’s?

Answer 2

-Eisenhower rejected Truman’s commitment to major expansion
-Containment was limited and its effectiveness was insufficient

Question 3

What did Dulles argue about Truman’s containment policy?

Answer 3

US pose no offensive threat to USSR, so there is no risk to the USSR of expansion
-‘present negative policies’

Question 4

What policy did Dulles want the US to adopt?

Answer 4

Rollback
-Dulles convinced that the security of US national interests and guarantee of international peace dependent on reducing the dominance of Soviet communism globally

Question 5

What job role did Dulles hold under Eisenhower?

Answer 5

Secretary of State

Question 6

What was massive retaliation?

Answer 6

Nuclear strategy where US would retaliate in much greater force if the USSR attacked

Question 7

What was brinkmanship?

Answer 7

Using nuclear strength to attempt to force agreements from communist opponents