Tuesdays begining, April 21st at 7PM

Part 1: The first hour chronicles Eisenhower’s exploits in World War II, his decision to enter presidential politics, and his fulfillment of an election promise to seek a solution to ending the Korean War, after more than 33,000 military deaths. It also follows the grassroots movement to draft Eisenhower as the Republican candidate for president; Eisenhower’s reluctant decision to leave his powerful position at NATO; his fight for the Republican Party’s nomination against “neo isolationist” Sen. Robert Taft, the leader of the GOP; his campaign against Democrat Adlai Stevenson; and finally, his election as the 34th president.

Part 2: The second hour recounts President Eisenhower’s diplomatic confrontations against the Soviet Union during the early Cold War years, crises prompted by aggressive Kremlin-sponsored action around the world. It also documents his attempts to keep the peace while establishing a clear superiority for the U.S. in the nuclear arms “race.” He used what scholars have called his “hidden hand” tactics to keep that superiority under wraps despite intense criticism that the U.S. was falling behind the USSR in military strength. Thanks to the use of the U-2 spy plane, “Ike” knew the weaknesses of the Soviet Union, but he kept that information secret as he pushed his policies of peaceful co-existence in a divided world.