The foreign policy of United States president Dwight D. Eisenhower was most notable for its efforts to contain the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Concern had intensified over growing Soviet influence in Egypt, and an international confrontation began when Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal in 1956. In 1957 Eisenhower pledged assistance to any Middle Eastern state against “overt armed aggression from any nation controlled by international communism.” This policy, excerpted here, became known as the Eisenhower Doctrine. Eisenhower never formally invoked the doctrine, but he came close to using it when he sent Marines to Lebanon in 1958. Herbert S. Parmet

Eisenhower Doctrine

January 5, 1957

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…Let me refer again to the requested authority to employ the armed forces of the United States to assist and to defend the territorial integrity and the political independence of any nation in the area against Communist armed aggression. Such authority would not be exercised except at the desire of the nation attacked. Beyond this it is my profound hope that this authority would never have to be exercised at all.…

If power-hungry Communists should either falsely or correctly estimate that the Middle East is inadequately defended, they might be tempted to use open measures of armed attack. If so, that would start a chain of circumstances which would almost surely involve the United States in military action. I am convinced that the best insurance against this dangerous contingency is to make clear now our readiness to cooperate fully and freely with our friends of the Middle East in ways consonant with the purposes and principles of the United Nations. I intend promptly to send a special mission to the Middle East to explain the cooperation we are prepared to give.

IX.

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The policy which I outline involves certain burdens and indeed risks for the United States. Those who covet the area will not like what is proposed. Already, they are grossly distorting our purpose. However, before this Americans have seen our nation's vital interests and human freedom in jeopardy, and their fortitude and resolution have been equal to the crisis, regardless of hostile distortion of our words, motives and actions.…

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1957 Washington, D. C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1958.

Appears in

Suez Crisis; United States (History); Eisenhower, Dwight David