The most important issue during President Truman’s second term was the growth of Communism. The free states in Europe joined with the USA in forming NATO as a means of blocking the expansion of the Soviet empire. The Communists took China in 1949 and threatened other nations. Truman sent money to anti-Communist forces in Greece, Turkey, China, Korea, and Iran. During a Soviet boycott of the United Nations meetings, Truman received UN support for the anti-Communist state in South Korea. The Korean conflict continued throughout most of Truman’s second term. Last of all, there was a lot of talk about Communists in the USA infiltrating the State Department.

The Republican Party nominated Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower for President in 1952. In the primaries, Eisenhower and Sen. Robert A. Taft of Ohio ran roughly even, though they only faced each other in five primaries. When the convention met, Eisenhower won a first ballot victory by a 595–500 margin. After the initial count, several states shifted their votes to Ike, and he ended up with 845 votes. Sen. Richard M. Nixon of California was chosen for the vice presidential position.

President Truman dropped out of the race for renomination after losing the New Hampshire Democratic primary to Sen. Estes Kefauver of Tennessee. Kefauver went on to win all of the other primary states except FL and WV. However, the Democratic convention passed over Kefauver and nominated Gov. Adlai E. Stevenson of Illinois on the third ballot. S

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The most important issue during President Truman’s second term was the growth of Communism. The free states in Europe joined with the USA in forming NATO as a means of blocking the expansion of the Soviet empire. The Communists took China in 1949 and threatened other nations. Truman sent money to anti-Communist forces in Greece, Turkey, China, Korea, and Iran. During a Soviet boycott of the United Nations meetings, Truman received UN support for the anti-Communist state in South Korea. The Korean conflict continued throughout most of Truman’s second term. Last of all, there was a lot of talk about Communists in the USA infiltrating the State Department.

The Republican Party nominated Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower for President in 1952. In the primaries, Eisenhower and Sen. Robert A. Taft of Ohio ran roughly even, though they only faced each other in five primaries. When the convention met, Eisenhower won a first ballot victory by a 595–500 margin. After the initial count, several states shifted their votes to Ike, and he ended up with 845 votes. Sen. Richard M. Nixon of California was chosen for the vice presidential position.

President Truman dropped out of the race for renomination after losing the New Hampshire Democratic primary to Sen. Estes Kefauver of Tennessee. Kefauver went on to win all of the other primary states except FL and WV. However, the Democratic convention passed over Kefauver and nominated Gov. Adlai E. Stevenson of Illinois on the third ballot. Stevenson had declined to run prior to the balloting but accepted the nomination.

Late in the election campaign, Eisenhower promised to end the conflict in Korea if he was elected. He agreed to make a trip to Korea in order to prepare an honorable agreement. The Democrats ridiculed the idea, but Stevenson was trailing so badly that the public was impressed with Ike’s willingness to end the unpopular stalemate in Korea.

The Republicans won the Presidency by a 55–44 margin, and they picked up the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House. For the first time in 21 years, the Republicans controlled the White House and Congress.

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