Dwight D. Eisenhower in McCarthyism & Red Scare

Dwight D. Eisenhower in McCarthyism & Red Scare

Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969), a Republican, was the popular 34th President of the United States, serving two terms from 1953 to 1961. Prior to his presidency, Eisenhower was a lifelong military man, commanding the D-Day invasion while serving as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during World War II.

In the early days of his presidency, Eisenhower—a staunch but not hysterical anticommunist—deplored the inquisitorial excesses of Senator Joseph McCarthy, but felt that McCarthy was too strong to attack directly. Eisenhower was said to be pleased when McCarthy discredited himself and fell from grace during the Army-McCarthy hearings of 1954.