Eisenhower World Peace Speech Analysis

Dwight D. Eisenhower initially became known for his success in World War Two, as an Army general. After the war, Eisenhower returned as a hero and in 1952 he was elected as the 34th President of the United States. Eisenhower served two terms as president from 1953 to 1961. Throughout Eisenhower’s presidency, he faced international issues such as the end of the Korean War, the Cold War, and the beginnings of the Vietnam war. Eisenhower’s most prominent foreign achievement was how he handled the Cold War, because the Soviet Union, also known as the USSR, tested the limits of the United States by threatening nuclear war and the imminent spread of communism. Eisenhower’s foreign policy was effective during the Cold War, working to slow the spread

First, Eisenhower gave a speech known as the “Chance for Peace Speech”, addressed to the American people and other nations. It was made in response to claims made by the new premier of the Soviet Union, Georgy Malenkov. After Stalin died, there was the hope that new relations could form between the Soviet Union and United States. This was because the new leader Malenkov was more focused on internal issues in the Soviet Union, and not as many problems in the outside world. Eisenhower’s speech addressed the vast amount of money being spent by both the USSR and United States on weapons, and instead believed it should be used for "those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed"("Eisenhower, Dwight"). Eisenhower was trying to show how the United States and USSR are facing similar internal struggles, and if each nation left their past behind, they could improve the quality of each nation. Eisenhower hoped that by using Malenkov’s focus on the USSR’s internal struggles, it would be easier to de-escalate the Cold War. Furthermore, Eisenhower’s State of the Union address also showed his commitment to creating world peace. In the Far East, he described plans for Korea, Japan, and China. These included mutual security pacts and continued military and economic support to the National Government of China, as opposed to the communist one. By creating these pacts, Eisenhower was able to maintain peace in the region, and by funding the National Government of China, Eisenhower hoped to prevent communist rule. Eisenhower also talked about stabilizing peace in Western Europe. He stated, “the building of a united European community, including France and Germany, is vital to a free and self-reliant Europe”(Eisenhower, Dwight D. "Annual Message to the Congress on the State of the Union."). A