[152]

February 1959 White House portrait
Eisenhower made greater use of press conferences than any previous president, holding almost 200 over his two terms. He saw the benefit of maintaining a good relationship with the press, and he saw value in them as a means of direct communication with the American people.[153]
Throughout his presidency, Eisenhower adhered to a political philosophy of dynamic conservatism.[154] He described himself as a "progressive conservative"[155] and used terms such as "progressive moderate" and "dynamic conservatism" to describe his approach.[156] He continued all the major New Deal programs still in operation, especially Social Security. He expanded its programs and rolled them into the new Cabinet-level agency of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, while extending benefits to an additional ten million workers. He implemented racial integration in the Armed Services in two years, which had not been completed under Truman.[157]
In a private letter, Eisenhower wrote:

Should any party attempt to abolish social security and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. 