Eisenhower, foe to friend

Dwight D Eisenhower came to India in December 1959 as a part of his Asia tour. Eisenhower, the first American President to visit free India, was feted as the 'Prince of Peace' and drove in an open car to a tumultuous welcome.

Dwight D Eisenhower was the American President to visit India. His visit on December 10, 1959 came at a time when ties between India and the US were strained. Eisenhower had provided military assistance to Pakistan and made India's No. 1 rival its partner in an anti-Communist alliance.

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But by the time he came to Delhi, Indo-US ties had improved. Eisenhower was feted as the 'Prince of Peace' in Delhi and drove in an open car to a tumultuous welcome.

His administration announced economic aid to India and didn't press New Delhi to join the anti-USSR bloc.