Meeting a Real Rosie: Connie Palacioz

During World War II, more than six million women entered the workforce as men went off to fight. They took on a variety of roles, including typists, farm workers, taxi and bus drivers, as well as factory and shipyard workers. Many found themselves on assembly lines producing munitions and other war supplies. To encourage women to step into these roles, propaganda campaigns urged them to "Do the job he left behind." This gave rise to the iconic figure of Rosie the Riveter—a symbol of the hardworking women who supported the war effort.

Atoms for Peace

President Dwight D. Eisenhower was determined to solve 'the fearful atomic dilemma' by finding some way by which 'the miraculous inventiveness of man' would not be dedicated to his death, but consecrated to his life. In his Atoms for Peace speech before the United Nations General Assembly on December 8, 1953, President Eisenhower sought to solve this terrible problem by suggesting a means to transform the atom from a scourge into a benefit for mankind.

Ike Championed the Modern Civil Rights Era

In May, the nation marked the 66th anniversary of the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education U.S. Supreme Court decision, which declared segregated schools unconstitutional. However, desegregation did not happen overnight. Three years later, in September 1957, nine African American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, enrolled at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, setting off a historic confrontation between federal authority and state resistance.

Eisenhower Doctrine speech

In a special message to Congress, Eisenhower proclaims the sovereignty of the Middle Eastern nations and that the United States will ensure that force will not be used for any aggressive purpose in the world. The President seeks congressional authorization to employ the military in the Middle East to uphold this new policy.

Of Course I Can

Poster: 'Of Course I Can! I'm patriotic as can be -- And ration points won't worry me!'
Many posters were produced during World War II to instill in the people a sense of patriotism and to encourage all Americans to help with the war effort. The posters called upon every American to endure the personal sacrifice and domestic adjustments on the home front needed to win the war.

War Ration Book Number Four

War ration books were produced by the United States Office of Price Administration in 1942 when United States officially entered the Second World War. Shortages of essential war materials such as rubber, gasoline, and sugar were initially anticipated, but soon rationing grew to include food as well as fuel and sugar. Ration book four was released in late 1943. Form No. R-145

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