Eisenhower and Suez: An Appraisal of Presidential Leadership
Abstract
During the last quarter century, American historians have produced an avalanche of monographs and literature on the Eisenhower presidency. The majority of contemporary authors viewed Eisenhower as an aging hero who seldom controlled the daily operations of the White House. Most current scholars, however, now concede that Eisenhower was a far more executive president than originally envisioned. The Suez crisis of 1956 is a valuable case for the examination of presidential decision-making and executive leadership. An analysis of the primary sources reveals a chief executive who did not delegate major foreign policy decisions to his subordinates. Rather, Eisenhower maintained tight control of the decision-making process by organizing the security departments within the federal government in such a manner that it was only at the presidential level that all aspects of strategy and policy coalesced. Throughout the crisis, Eisenhower personally articulated policy goals. The evidence clearly suggests that Eisenhower was an extraordinarily active president who utilized a unique style of leadership to achieve his political objectives.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 05, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA252749
Entities
People
- Cole C. Kingseed
Organizations
- Naval War College