Dwight D. Eisenhower’s election to the presidency in 1952 brought an end to two decades of Democratic rule in the White House. His landslide victory, however, masked intense factionalism within the Republican Party. Whereas conservatives were eager to reverse the domestic and foreign policies of past administrations, liberal Republicans favored active federal involvement in Americans’ lives and an internationalist approach to affairs abroad. As political historian Steven Wagner demonstrates, Eisenhower sought a “middle way” between Democrats to his left and conservatives to his right.
In American political culture, those who describe themselves as “middle of the road” are often portrayed as unwilling to take a stand or lacking in political sophistication. This was not the case with Eisenhower, whose “middle way” was the result of careful consideration. Despite his party’s commitment to limited government, free enterprise, and individual initiative, Eisenhower believed that, in some cases, the federal government needed to intervene.
Eisenhower’s enormous popularity with the American people assured him reelection and high approval ratings throughout his two terms of office. This popularity did not, however, translate into legislative success; his proposals were often defeated by an unlikely coalition of liberals and conservatives. Nor did Eisenhower’s popularity carry over to his party, a fact driven home by the defeat of his vice president, Richard Nixon, in the 1960 presidential election. In the resulting battle for control of the party, conservatives prevailed. Wagner concludes with a candid discussion of the legacy of “Eisenhower Republicanism” and the ways in which the subsequent conservative victory has continued to shape the party to this day.
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Editorial Reviews
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“Well written … the argument is logical and well structured. The research and scholarship are impressive and the author’s conclusions are sound.”—Nicol Rae, Florida International University
“Wagner provides the first in-depth analysis of the president’s troubled relationship with his own Republican Party and the battles over his major domestic policies and programs.”—Richard V. Damms, Mississippi State University
About the Author
Steven Wagner is Associate Professor of History at Missouri Southern State University.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Eisenhower's middle of the road policy defined,
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This review is from: EISENHOWER REPUBLICANISM: PURSUING THE MIDDLE WAY (Hardcover)
...Wagner's book is a tightly-written thread which continues to weave its way though American culture today. Unlike pompous one-sided talk show hosts who are overweight in many ways, the volume is a thin, targeted look at issues and the man. Many, whether they were Republicans or Democrats, would see it as a fair assessment of Eisenhower's attempts to tackle the tough issues of his time through compromise--a philosophy which often seems foreign today.
The general, courted by both the GOP and Democrats because of his popularity, sought a more active role for the federal government in many areas, even the decidedly un-republican expansion of several New Deal programs. Harry Truman offered to endorse Ike for the Democratic nomination to succeed him, but Eisenhower ultimately chose republicanism. He believed he could create lasting change in the way the party and the people approached problems. Wagner believes that the skilled military strategist did not, however, succeed in recruiting enough troops in Congress or elsewhere to create a lasting legacy. Ike was no weakling, Wagner says, and his approach bore some resemblance to that of another, earlier, unconventional president. But the man could not find, or his party did not want, the right human receptacles to sustain his philosophies. As the Missoui Southern author put it, "In American political culture those who describe themselves as 'middle of the road' are often portrayed as unwilling to take a stand or lacking in political sophistication. This was not the case with Eisenhower. The 'middle way' was a carefully considered political philosophy similar to Theodore Roosevelt's cautious progressivism." If rational men do not undertake to lead societal change, Roosevelt and Eisenhower reasoned, then the "lunatic fringe" would take over. Ike was constantly fighting various wings of his party and used a young man named Richard Nixon as his vice president and go-between with the "right-wing" conservative zealots...although his later endorsement of Nixon as a successor was a rather timid one. The guy was just not mature enough, Eisenhower told others. The Ike record? Rather spotty, Wagner believes. He did send troops in to Little Rock to back up desegregation orders from the courts but was not an outspoken advocate of desegregation in places other than the military or installations over which the federal government had direct control. He supported Little Rock and Brown vs Topeka civil rights moves because he had an obligation to uphold the law, the professor adds, but could have been much more active. Ike believed that social change or education change would be more lasting if it came from within--which history, perhaps, has shown us is a noble goal but unrealistic. Although he hated Sen. Joseph McCarthy, affectionately known as the Red-under-every-bed allegedly anti-Communist blowhard, Eisenhower did not speak out too loudly; it would give the senator too much attention, he felt. "I just don't want to get into a pissing match with that skunk," Ike told his brother Milton. He was referring to McCarthy. He also once called the party's right wing "the most ignorant people now living in the United States." The book does not give us many clues to Eisenhower's persona or how his background as the military mastermind from Kansas fed or conflicted with his ability to achieve his goals or not. He could get angry, at least in private. For instance, as Wagner points out, he was incensed when he thought he had an agreement allowing the Little Rock troops do their job unencumbered after a chat in Washington with Arkansas' segregationist governor Orville Faubus. Then Faubus returned home and did just the opposite. The Ike many liked was a man of high principle and hopes but was simply not forceful enough at times, Wagner believes. His carefully-researched and balanced book draws on the judgments of others also, including famed historians Theodore White and Stephen Ambrose, and tons of original documents..... From the [....]
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Should be required reading for the politically involved,
By John Doe "J.D." (USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: EISENHOWER REPUBLICANISM: PURSUING THE MIDDLE WAY (Hardcover)
This book should be required reading for anyone, Republican or Democrat, who is involved in politics today. Although this is first and foremost a history book about Eisenhower's years as President, it is also a look at the Republican party at a moment of great change. Wagner does a good job of outlining what those changes have been, as well as how and why they occurred.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Splendid.....,
By
This review is from: EISENHOWER REPUBLICANISM: PURSUING THE MIDDLE WAY (Hardcover)
As a student of Dr. Wagner I had the pleasure of learning about the history of the US first hand. After reading his biography of Eisenhower, i have furthered my quest for knowledge and I am in grreater debt to him for it..... Thank you for writing this book!
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