[19.f.1] Assessment of McCarthy

. . . Historians have typically viewed McCarthy as a right-wing demagogue but in the context of the Cold War and Soviet penetration of US security and science agencies, his “reactions may not seem quite so excessive.” 

[19.h.1] From Truman to Eisenhower, 1952

Republican Dwight  Eisenhower defeated Illinois governor Adlai Stevenson for president.  Ike’s campaign formula of  “K1C2”  promised an honorable peace in Korea, toughness on communism, and to “clean up the mess in Washington.”  

[19.h.2] McCarthy

Ike's advisors wanted him to denounce McCarthy but that proved unecessary as McCarthy soon discredited himself with exaggerated claims.  Eisenhower's middle-of-the-road strategy gave him 83% of the Electoral College.

[19.i.3-4] Road to Vietnam

Vietnam was temporarily divided in 1954 after the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu.  The Geneva Accords promised elections in 1956 to re-unify the country.  But the leader in the south, Ngo Dinh Diem, reneged when CIA estimated that  Ho Chi Minh, the communist leader of the North, would get 90% of the vote.