History Commons^™

Eisenhower: From “Do-Nothing” To “Did-Everything”, Holly F. Caldwell

Channels: Where Disciplines Meet

Dwight David Eisenhower was a modest man who led a modest life. The 34^th president of the United States was a country boy who hailed from the rural town of Abilene, Kansas. He was not born into instant greatness; instead, he grew into it. He held several notable positions, culminating in the achievement of being elected to the presidency. His presidential reign was relatively calm, with few drastic disruptions, and this period of tranquility led to a public perception of Eisenhower as a “do-nothing” president.

Contrary to the traditional portrayal, historical revisionism has exhibited Eisenhower as an experienced and …

Before “Fire And Fury”: The Role Of Anger And Fear In U.S.–North Korea Relations, 1968–1994, Benjamin Young

Research & Publications

Since the beginning of the Korean War, the North Korean and U.S. governments have been involved in emotional warfare. From North Korea’s stated “eternal hatred” of the U.S. imperialists to Washington’s demonization of Pyongyang as an insidious Soviet pawn, emotions have been at the heart of this hostile bilateral relationship. Using three case studies (the 1968 Pueblo incident, the 1976 axe murder incident, and the 1994 nuclear crisis), I examine the ways in which the two sides have elicited emotional responses from their populations for their respective political goals. By portraying the U.S. as the source of all evilness in …

What Didn’T Happen: Analyzing Cal Poly’S Proposed Educational Assistance Program Following The Korean War, Sam Mcclintock

Cal Poly's History: Student Research Reports

Following the Korean War, Cal Poly was approached to take part in a program to provide technical education assistance to vocational schools in the Republic of Korea by the newly formed United States Foreign Operations Administration. This paper seeks to analyze that program in the context of Cal Poly’s history, especially in comparison to other international education programs and to other dealings between the University and the United States Government. Although Cal Poly ultimately never took part in the Korea Program, it still provides insight into the college’s priorities and place in the context of US foreign policy in the …

Thucydides In Pyongyang: Fear, Honor And Interests In The 1968 Pueblo Incident, Benjamin Young

Research & Publications

Purpose: On January 23, 1968, North Korean naval forces captured a U.S spy ship, the USS Pueblo, off the coast of Wonsan. This incident nearly led to a second Korean War and heightened hostilities between the U.S and North Korean governments. This article demystifies the strategic thinking of Kim Il Sung’s regime and clarifies the reasoning behind Pyongyang’s risky undertaking in capturing the Pueblo and its crewmen as a rational and pragmatic action.

Design, Methodology, Approach: While the Pueblo crisis has been examined by a number of historians, this article which is based on former Eastern bloc archival documents and …

The Incomplete Social Contract: Elites And Ideals In The England Of John Locke (1632~1704) And The Korea Of Jeong Dojeon (1342~1398) And Heo Gyun (1569~1618), Jihyeong Park

Senior Projects Spring 2020

Based on thorough evaluations of John Locke’s England (1632~1704), Jeong Dojeon’s Korea (1342~1398), and Heo Gyun’s Korea (1569~1618), it can be concluded that a social contract between a ruler and a ruler’s subjects existed in both the English and Joseon kingdoms. The idea that both kingdoms could have all people such as servants, farmers, and kings all know their political freedom disproves Hegel’s argument that one person knows freedom in Asia, and all people know freedom in Europe. This also shows that there is a broader human context in Asia and Europe and that the desire and drive for political …

A Century In Uniform: Military Women In American Films, Introduction, Stacy Fowler, Deborah A. Deacon

Faculty Articles

From silents of the early American motion picture era through 21st century films, this book offers a decade-by-decade examination of portrayals of women in the military. The full range of genres is explored, along with films created by today's military women about their experiences.

Laws regarding women in the service are analyzed, along with discussion of the challenges they have faced in the push for full participation and of the changing societal attitudes through the years.