Dwight D. Eisenhower s military and political career clearly marks him as one of the major historical figures of the twentieth century. The issues of the time of his presidency, with the Cold War at its height and serious social, economic and racial tensions at home, made his conduct of affairs of very great historical significance. Peter Boyle incorporates the latest research on Eisenhower into a succinct, analytical assessment of Eisenhower as a statesman in the context of his time

Boyle s study of Eisenhower covers the major issues of his presidency, such as relations with the Soviet Union, the Suez Crisis, the Hungarian Revolution, the economy, civil rights, presidential and Congressional elections. Boyle s interpretation goes beyond post-revisionism to argue that Eisenhower s handling of the substantial issues of his presidency was extremely effective. Boyle argues, however, that there were some serious weaknesses in Eisenhower s political skills, especially with regard to party leadership, grooming a successor and inability to capitalise on policy accomplishments for party political advantage.

Offering a detailed study of Eisenhower s accomplishments in domestic and foreign affairs, especially in the light of new evidence from archives and through comparison between Eisenhower and his successors, this book advances an evaluation of Eisenhower which rates him as one of America s greatest presidents.

Peter G. Boyle is a Senior Lecturer in American History at the University of Nottingham. He has published extensively in the field of American political history and American foreign policy, including "American Soviet Relations: From the Russian Revolution to the Fall of Communism" and an edition of "The Churchill Eisenhower Correspondence, 1953 1955."