An American Century | 2 of 4

Leader of the Free World

This is the second of four posts relating to the vision of ‘The American Century’ that animated the creation of the postwar world order. The first looks at the rousing of the US toward global responsibilities in the Second World War, culminating in the establishment of the National Security State. The second examines the postwar notion of America as ‘The Leader of the Free World.’ The third considers the notion of ‘Freedom on the March,’ evolving from a Cold War mission to rationale for twenty-first century ‘forever wars.’ The fourth frames our current challenges as the political economy of empire.

Leader of the Free World

The American voters…assumed last Tuesday the double responsibility of choosing a President for this country and the man predestined to be the leader of the free world for four decisive years. —Ann O’Hare McCormick, New York Times, November 9, 1952

Perhaps it was inevitable that the first president elected after the creation of the National Security State would be Dwight D. Eisenhower. Ike commanded widespread respect for his leadership, management, and diplomacy in the Allied victory in Europe. He subsequently served as the first Supreme Allied Commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), established in 1949 to counter Soviet expansion in central and eastern Europe.

President Eisenhower personified American leadership of the free world. At the helm of the National Security State, he extended military prowess and prestige into other realms.