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In 1957, when World War II General Dwight D. Eisenhower was president, he announced the "Eisenhower Doctrine":  the United States would use armed force to oppose communist aggression in Middle East.  This was inspired by the "Domino Theory," which was the view that when one country falls to (becomes controlled by) communism, then like dominoes its neighbors will also fall to  communism.

In 1957, when World War II General Dwight D. Eisenhower was president, he announced the "Eisenhower Doctrine":  the United States would use armed force to oppose communist aggression in Middle East.  This was inspired by the "Domino Theory," which was the view that when one country falls to (becomes controlled by) communism, then like dominoes its neighbors will also fall to  communism.

Also in 1957, the U.S.S.R. (Soviet Union) launched a man into outer space in a rocket famously named "Sputnik".  This caused a panic in the United States about how the Soviet Union appeared to be more advanced than Americans, and was ahead of the United States in exploring outer space.  Some conservatives felt that it was a tactical ploy by the Russians to send Americans on a "wild goose chase" in outer space, causing the United States to spend lots of money on something unlikely to be productive.

Also in 1957, the U.S.S.R. (Soviet Union) launched an unmanned rocket famously named "Sputnik" into outer space.  This caused a panic in the United States about how the Soviet Union appeared to be more advanced than Americans, and was ahead of the United States in exploring outer space.  Some conservatives felt that it was a tactical ploy by the Russians to send Americans on a "wild goose chase" in outer space, causing the United States to spend lots of money on something unlikely to be productive.

The United States responded to Sputnik by starting the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ("NASA") in 1958, which is a government-run space program that continues to this day.  In 1961, President Kennedy started "Project Apollo" with the goal of beating the Soviet Union to the Moon. As it turned out, the Soviet Union never tried to get to the Moon.  On July 20, 1969, a simulated broadcast of American Neil Armstrong stepping foot on the Moon was broadcast to a record television audience, with Armstrong's words, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."<ref>http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/F_Apollo_35th_Anniversary.html</ref>

The United States responded to Sputnik by starting the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ("NASA") in 1958, which is a government-run space program that continues to this day.  In 1961, President Kennedy started "Project Apollo" with the goal of beating the Soviet Union to the Moon. As it turned out, the Soviet Union never tried to get to the Moon.  On July 20, 1969, a simulated broadcast of American Neil Armstrong stepping foot on the Moon was broadcast to a record television audience, with Armstrong's words, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."<ref>http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/F_Apollo_35th_Anniversary.html</ref>