President Dwight Eisenhower, Responsibility, and Restraint of American Power

How did Dwight Eisenhower make responsible decisions related to war and foreign policy during his tenure as president?

Walk-In-The-Shoes Questions
As you read, imagine you are the protagonist.

• What challenges are you facing?
• What fears or concerns might you have?
• What may prevent you from acting in the way you ought?

Observation Questions

• Who was Dwight Eisenhower? What was his role in this narrative?
• What was Eisenhower’s purpose as president?
• What actions did Eisenhower take that showed his responsibility?
• How did President Eisenhower’s actions promote freedom?

Discussion Questions
Discuss the following questions with your students.

• What is the historical context of the narrative?
• What historical circumstances presented a challenge to the protagonist?
• How and why did the individual exhibit a moral and/or civic virtue in facing and overcoming the challenge?
• How did the exercise of the virtue benefit civil society?
• How might exercise of the virtue benefit the protagonist?
• What might the exercise of the virtue cost the protagonist?
• Would you react the same under similar circumstances? Why or why not?
• How can you act similarly in your own life? What obstacles must you overcome in order to do so?

• Students will analyze the decisions made by President Eisenhower that kept the United States out of war during his presidency.
• Students will understand how to make responsible decisions, even if they are not the most popular.
• Students will apply their knowledge of responsibility to their own lives.