General Dwight D. Eisenhower 's public stature , along with his unknown views on domestic issues , had made him appealing as a potential candidate for both parties in the 1948 election . Though he had generally supported Truman 's foreign policy , Eisenhower privately held conservative views on most domestic issues and never seriously considered running for office as a Democrat . Beginning in 1951 , eastern , internationalist Republicans , led by Thomas Dewey and Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. , coordinated a draft movement designed to nominate Eisenhower as the Republican candidate for president . Eisenhower initially resisted these efforts , but in March 1952 he agreed to allow his name to be entered into the New Hampshire primary . He was motivated in part by his desire to defeat Robert A. Taft , the other major contender for the Republican nomination . The 1952 Republican primaries became a battle between Dewey 's internationalist wing of the party and Taft 's conservative , isolationist wing . Eisenhower narrowly prevailed over Taft at the 1952 Republican National Convention ; with the approval of Eisenhower , the convention nominated Richard Nixon for vice president
1952 Republican National Convention
1952 Republican National Convention
Presidency of Harry S. Truman