Dwight D. Eisenhower: "Runaway Train"

Unger has some witty chapter titles, and Eisenhower's "Runaway Train" is no exception. He is so exquisitely pessimistic that I can't help but laugh sometimes. He outdoes my mom in the cynicism category, which is actually difficult.




But anyways, Eisenhower. He was a follower, not a leader. Which is funny (or maybe not?) because he was, after all, the President. He was the runaway train that just continued down the path he inherited, not stopping to think of the consequences, or alternative courses of action. He was the willing heir of the powerful presidency. 




Unger's first bone to pick with Eisenhower is his nomination as the republican candidate, rather than Taft. Not really his fault, but Unger goes on to say that the fact that it isn't his fault is almost scarier than if it was. But I get ahead of myself. The issue with this decision was the difference in Eisenhower and Taft's proposed platforms. Where Taft wanted to restore the constitutionally restrained executive government and limit US involvement in overseas affairs (*Unger cheering wildly*),  Eisenhower was the candidate of the Emergency State (*Unger booing*). In Eisenhower's nomination, Unger argues, is the victory of the emergency state in public opinion. And if the people accept the emergency state, then what is there left to stop it? (this is the stuff of Unger's most terrifying nightmares).




The other of Unger's issues with Eisenhower was the way in which he handled Soviet Russia (surprise, surprise!). When Stalin died, Unger thinks that Eisenhower should have first had a party and then reached out to Russia in hopes of compromising with the wounded nation. But Eisenhower didn't do that. In his "Chance for Peace" speech, Eisenhower leaves no room for a Russian compromise. Rather, he seems to foolishly expect Russia to come groveling at his feet, begging for forgiveness and friendship. He offers a plan for peace with the soviets--if they do everything he asks, he will stop the "fighting". The "no deal" verdict was hard and fast, and essentially allowed Russia all the encouragement they needed to return to the old familiar ways--Stalin's ways. Thus, Eisenhower perpetuated the cold war and the dictatorship of the Soviets.




Unger sees all of this as essentially a power struggle with Russia. Eisenhower refused to step off his high presidential horse in order to do what was actually best for the nation, and in doing so, strengthened the growing emergency state.