The election of 1956 came at a time when America was experiencing prosperity at home and growing tensions abroad. Dwight D. Eisenhower had entered the White House in 1952 as a war hero promising peace and stability. Now, four years later, the question was whether the popular Republican president—facing health scares, Cold War crises, and a determined Democratic challenger—could secure a second term.
Eisenhower’s Presidency
After his decisive victory over Adlai Stevenson in 1952, Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower focused on building both domestic progress and international stability. At home, his administration maintained many New Deal programs while expanding federal roles in new areas. Notable achievements included:
- Creation of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (later HHS).
- Support for space research, which would soon evolve into the founding of NASA.
- The landmark Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, launching the Interstate Highway System, the most ambitious infrastructure project in U.S. history.
In foreign policy, Eisenhower ended U.S. involvement in the Korean War, brokered the Soviet withdrawal from Austria, and defused the Suez Crisis of 1956 by pressuring Britain, France, and Israel to withdraw from Egypt. Yet his administration also authorized CIA-backed coups in Iran, Guatemala, and other nations—decisions that brought short-term gains but long-term consequences.
Despite criticism from both left and right, Eisenhower’s reputation as a steady, moderate leader kept him highly popular. The GOP easily re-nominated him, once again with Richard Nixon as his running mate.
The Return of the Egghead
On the Democratic side, the search for a challenger focused on three men:
- Averell Harriman, Governor of New York, backed by Harry Truman.
- Estes Kefauver, Senator from Tennessee, famed for his anti-corruption “Kefauver Committee.”
- Adlai Stevenson II, the former Illinois governor who had lost badly to Eisenhower in 1952.
Kefauver performed strongly in early primaries and even debated Stevenson in the first-ever nationally televised primary debate. But Stevenson ultimately rallied delegates at the Democratic National Convention, securing the nomination. To unify the party, he chose Kefauver as his running mate—passing over a young senator named John F. Kennedy, who had been seriously considered for the ticket.
The Campaigns and Television Ads
Like 1952, the election of 1956 was fought as much on television as on the stump.
- Stevenson’s campaign: focused on ending the draft, expanding social programs, reducing defense spending, and negotiating arms agreements with the Soviets. He criticized Eisenhower for being too cautious and too reliant on Cold War brinkmanship.
- Eisenhower’s campaign: highlighted his successes in avoiding new wars, ending the Korean conflict, and keeping the economy stable. His team tailored ads to appeal to women, especially housewives, who had given him strong support in 1952.
Civil rights also shaped the campaign. Eisenhower endorsed the Brown v. Board of Education decision and sent federal troops to enforce desegregation—actions that won him about 40% of the Black vote, a remarkable share for a Republican in the mid-20th century.
The Results
The outcome was never really in doubt. Eisenhower won re-election in a landslide, carrying 41 of 48 states—including Louisiana, which hadn’t voted Republican since 1876. He received 457 electoral votes and 57.4% of the popular vote, compared to Stevenson’s 73 electoral votes and 42% of the popular vote.
This made Eisenhower the first Republican since William McKinley to win a second consecutive term and the first since Ulysses S. Grant to serve two full terms. The 1956 election also remains the last presidential election to feature a direct rematch between the same two candidates.
Conclusion
The election of 1956 confirmed Dwight D. Eisenhower’s enduring popularity and Republican strength after two decades of Democratic dominance. Just as the election of 1952 had ended the Democrats’ long hold on the White House, this election cemented Eisenhower’s legacy as a steady hand during prosperity and Cold War tension. But with Eisenhower barred by the new 22nd Amendment from seeking a third term, the election of 1960 would usher in a new generation of leadership—and a razor-thin contest that reshaped American politics.