Channels, Fall 2020

Channels • 20 20 • Volume 5 • Number 1 Page 45 Eisenhower: From “Do - Nothing” to “Did - Everything” Holly Caldwell History and Government Introduction When the word “revisionism” is put forth within a historical context, the reaction is often negative. There are many reasons historians are often not thrilled with proposed changes to the orthodox historical record – too often, the revisionist theories and ideas circulated are attempts to update or merge the historical record with themes and values upheld by the present culture. The attempt to impose contemporary narratives on the account of the past is ultimately a harmful endeavor, for it modifies history in such a way as to make it applicable only to the current context. In doing so, valuable experiences and knowledge are lost from the recounting of the original past and transformed into strained and artificially drawn conclusions that are then applied to present reality. This is the negative side of revisionism. However, make no mistake. Despite the somewhat stereotypical shudder that accompanies a historian hearing the term “revisionism,” there are occasions where such work is warranted. To guard against the portrayal of revisionism as evil incarnate, it is necessary to admit that there have been many instances where revisionism has been a positive good in history. The positive side of revisionism works to correct the errors in the historical record, replacing ingrained falsehoods with evidentiary-proven truths. One such example involves the accounting and perception of the presidency of Dwight David Eisenhower. While he was in office, Eisenhower oversaw a portion of American history that is typically classified as “peaceful, prosperous, and predictable.” 1 The years following World War II were calm. The American people were ready to rest, to settle back into the routines and rhythms of daily life in the United States. It was a time where people yearned for tranquility. There was a general longing to have a family, hold a steady job, and tend to life as it happened. With the prospect of war banished from the horizon, it appeared as though people were finally able to resume their respective versions of normality. Looking at his presidency from the outside, a peaceful America is what Eisenhower presided over as chief of state. He facilitated what Americans asked for – a stable nation that kept to the middle of the road politically and stayed out of conflict internationally. The irony of the situation is that critics of Eisenhower and his administration would use the 1 Stephen G. Rabe, “Eisenhower Revisionism: A Decade of Scholarship,” Diplomatic History 17, no. 1 (1993): 98, accessed March 20, 2020, www.jstor.org/stable/24912261. T