Eisenhower "I do not want to be president of the United States, and I want no political office or political connection of any kind," said General Dwight David Eisenhower to a stream of prominent visitors to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers, Europe, near Paris during the last half of 1951. Despite Eisenhower's often-repeated declaration against holding political office, American business leaders and politicians continued to urge him to run for the White House. They told him that …showed first 75 words of 2396 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2396 total…ded in disarray after the Soviets shot down an American U-2 spy plane over their territory. Eisenhower's influence in Congress evaporated as Democrats- and even some Republicans- voted to increase spending to improve their chances in the fall elections. The final disappointment occurred when Vice-president Richard M. Nixon lost his bid to succeed Eisenhower in the White House. A year that began with hopes of peace ended with renewed cold war tensions, recession, and repudiation.