From Truman's containment strategy to Eisenhower's stronger stance and the looming shadow of the H-bomb, the world was amidst rapid and dangerous changes.

• Key Concept
  • Containment = Preventing the spread of communism
• Truman's Stance
  • Reactive - He would respond after the spread of communism, not before.
• Eisenhower's Perspective
  • He thought Truman's approach was like seeing your ice cream melt and then trying to freeze it again, rather than ensuring it never melted in the first place.
  • Felt it was "incoherently and immorally passive". Imagine not studying for a test and then complaining about failing!
• Real World Example
  • Think of containment like a fence around a garden to stop rabbits from entering. Truman's strategy is to chase rabbits after they're in. Eisenhower would rather make sure they never get in.

• Background
  • A-bomb: First kind of atomic bomb.
  • H-bomb: Much more powerful than A-bomb. It's like comparing a firecracker to dynamite!
  • The US was shocked when the Soviet Union tested their H-bomb in 1953, just a year after the US did.
• Eisenhower & Dulles's Strategy - "Massive Retaliation"
  • If the USSR poked the US, the US wouldn't poke back. They'd throw the whole stick!
  • The logic: Imagine two people pointing guns at each other, both knowing that if one fires, both get shot. It's called deterrence. Who'd risk it?
• Eisenhower's Extra Bit:
  • He'd strike first if he knew of a planned attack. So, if you heard someone planning to steal your lunch, you'd eat it first!