Both John Foster Dulles and President Eisenhower were concerned with the expansion of American military power

and its effect on the national and international roles of the United States. How did each of these men define this new, post-World War II issue for Americans? How did these American sentiments parallel and contrast Nikita Khrushchevs sentiments?

In just over one hundred years the United States of America went from a new newly independent country to one of the most dominate countries in the world. In his farewell speech President Dwight D. Eisenhower stated: America is today the strongest, the most influential and most productive nation in the world. (Dwight Eisenhower, "Farewell Address to the Nation,"1961) Before World War II America was a debtor of other nations, however after World War II it became one of the leading creditors in the world. When World War II started the size of Americas army ranked 17th, by the end of the war America massed the largest army. The United States was leading in agriculture and in technology. We went from a country being run by foreign forces to a country who occupied countries around the world. We were a booming country leading the way in the post war era. With all this power and influence came a ton of responsibility.

There is a saying where much is given, much is expected What exactly was our role in the world? The United States purpose was to spread democracy. Throughout America's adventure in free government, our basic purposes have been to keep the peace; to foster progress in human achievement, and to enhance liberty, dignity and integrity among people and among nations. (Dwight Eisenhower, "Farewell Address to the Nation,"1961) how best were we to

achieve that? President Eisenhower cautioned us to be careful in foreign affairs, and be wary of unwanted influence. I feel he meant two different things here, unwanted influence from other countries to possibly sway us in an undemocratic direction. Or, I feel he means that we do not force our beliefs or extend ourselves where we are not wanted.

President Eisenhower, I feel, fully understood the awesome power the United States had, and the obligation to itself and to the rest of the world. we yet realize that America's leadership and prestige depend, not merely upon our unmatched material progress, riches and military strength, but on how we use our power in the interests of world peace and human betterment. (Dwight Eisenhower, "Farewell Address to the Nation,"1961) The United States is founded on the principle of freedom and democracy

Many Americans were surprised at President Eisenhowers speech and most felt more aligned with John F. Dulles, Secretary of State. He encouraged defensive security, for the United Stated and to proactively prepare for war. He called communism A small group believes fanatically in materialistic, atheistic society. It believes in mechanistic conformity, both in terms of human beings and of national groups. It would turn men into cogs in a materialistic machine, thinking and acting under central dictatorship. Cold War Foreign Policy (1958)

Nikita Khrushchev, First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, pushed for a peaceful coexistence, yet heavily chastised the United States for being an imperialist country aiming for world domination. In a speech Khrushchev stated; Naturally, aid to underdeveloped countries is granted n definite political terms providing for their integration into

aggressive military blocs, the conclusion of joint military pacts, and support for American foreign policy aimed at world domination, or world leadership, as the American imperialists themselves call it (Peaceful Coexistence (1956)) While the United States hoped peaceful coexistence meant an end to the cold war, Khrushchev really meant peaceful competition. Khrushchev goes on to defend communism and lists the benefits of its belief, he states that discontentment between the two parties blame should come from the imperial colonists. Also, he states; This means that if there is indeed a threat to the peaceful co-existence of countries with
differing social and political systems, it by no means comes from the Soviet Union or the rest of the socialist camp. (Peaceful Coexistence (1956)).

Nationally and internationally the threat of communism was feared. At home new policies such as: The Truman Doctrine, Policy of Containment, Marshall Plan and the Loyalty Program, were set in place to heighten security as well as wean out those who were communists. In discussing the Cold War with people who lived in that time frame the consensus was that it was a very frightening time. In grade school as a young boy living in Canada, I remember being very afraid that at any time we could be bombed by the Soviet Union and we would no longer exist. We had bomb drills each month to prepare us however, it was not like today and often times we did not know if it was a drill or an actual bomb (Glenn Johnston) Closer to the source, in Germany, the atomic bomb was not such a treat as the actual spread of communism. I wasnt scared so much about being bombed; I knew that was more for the Americans, as I was for the spread of Communism. We had just endured two awful wars and as citizens just wanted peace and democracy. We had been ruled by a dictatorship and feared it. (Ursula Bright)

Albert Einstein once said I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." The Cold War was an extremely scary, tense time in the world and could have at any time been disastrous not only for the superpowers involved, but for the rest of the world. Roosevelt, Dulles and Khrushchev all had different opinions on how to expand and control the situation. Roosevelt felt we needed to proceed with caution. Dulles felt we need to be aggressive and proactively protect the US. While Khrushchev felt we needed to stop our aim at world domination and peacefully coexist. For a country with such a short history we quickly grew into the most powerful nation with a considerable amount of power and responsibility and just how to move forward fallowing World War II was a tricky situation that I for one am glad was able to turn out the way that it did.

Bibiliography

Cold War Foreign Policy (1958), John F. Dulles Peaceful Coexistence (1956) Nikita Khrushchev Excerpt: Dwight Eisenhower, "Farewell Address to the Nation,"1961