Governor Shivers received 1,375,547 votes as the Democratic nominee and 468,319 votes as the Republican nominee. In the early 1950s Senator Joe McCarthy of Wisconsin made accusations that the U.S. government, and especially the State Department, had employed members of the Communist party. Among Senator McCarthy's most ardent backers were some wealthy Texas oil men . In 1952 the Korean War seemed to be stalemated with neither side being able to make a final push for victory. The stalemate dissatisfied many Americans who wished for quick victory and criticized President Truman for his dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur.
Inflation often accompanies wartime, and the Korean War was no exception.
The outcome of a strike in the steel industry was a price increase for steel. President Truman had failed to arbitrate that strike. He was a brilliant writer and speaker and had a good record as governor. Eisenhower's choice as running mate was California Senator Richard Nixon. Nixon had gained widespread fame for his role in the House Unamerican Activity Committee in the Alger Hiss affair.