Shanahan draws on extensive archival research to defend Eisenhower as a pragmatic leader who put national security ahead of partisan political advantage. He rebuts the still-widespread view that Eisenhower was caught by surprise by Sputnik. Ike had a robust plan for developing US rocketry and space reconnaissance capacity from 1955 on, and did not see any need to change that. Hysteria was fanned by Lyndon Johnson, scheming to become the Democratic presidential nominee, and by scientists and defense lobbyists seeking to boost the military budget. That led to Ike's approval dropping from 79 percent to 57 percent in three months. However, Ike "had no interest whatsoever in weaponizing space nor in engaging in a fatuous race that seemed to define outer space only as a Cold War battlefield."

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction -- 1. The policy-making character -- 2. Missile and reconnaissance development under Eisenhower -- 3. The Sputnik season -- 4. From confrontation to legislation -- 5. From strategy to implementation -- 6. Final thoughts : Ike revisited on space.