Eisenhower. Is he overrated as a president?

Question

Overall I think Eisenhower was a pretty talented as a president and general. But I find some of the negatives of his presidency are ignored 
(i)Iran Coup(1953). Installing the Shah's dictatorship and overthrowing Mossadegh's government
(ii)Guatemala Coup(1954). Overthrowing the democratic government of Arbenz and installing a dictatorship
(iii)Congo Coup(1960)Overthrowing the democratic government of Patrice Lumumba
(iv)MAD(Mutually Assured Destruction). Introducing the concept of Nuclear Brinkmanship 
(v)Indian Termination Act(1956). Termination was a policy of forcibly removing Native Americans from the reservations and pushing forced assimilation which essentially means destroying their culture 
(vi)Operation "Weetback". The forced and inhumane expulsion of migrants in 1954 
(vii)Approving J Edgar Hoover's decision to initiate COINTELPRO(1956).

Don't get me wrong. I think Eisenhower was still a pretty darn good president, especially his decisions on Korea, Suez and Little Rock. But some of his negatives are often ignored.

harpertara · Accepted Answer

All good points. Eisenhower is ranked 7 in the top ten presidents.  He did more good than harm as far as historians are concerned.

Observer · Answer

NO for the time and political nature of the world at the time he served, he was a good president, I believe he ranks something like 6th or 7th.,

robert x · Answer

NO: he is not overated , he was an excellent  president

? · Answer

You do have to judge presidents as they are part of their time. We were in the Cold War with the Soviets and he had been Allied Commander in WWII so his outlook reflected those experiences.

Best Answer · Answer

I like Ike, he was close to perfect, almost as perfect as Trump.

old dude · Answer

Yes some of the decisions were debatable BUT we don't really know the reasons behind them perhaps he didn't have a choice ......either way what's done is done

Eisenhower once said that his biggest regret was the rise of the military arms complex within the US

Eisenhower. Is he overrated as a president?

6 Answers