Part 2: Building Weapons, Talking Peace From 1953 - 1961, President Eisenhower led the U.S. in a cold war with the Soviet Union - an ideological struggle of democracy versus communism, which teetered on the brink of nuclear annihilation. The second hour recounts President Eisenhower's diplomatic confrontations against the Soviet Union during the early Cold War years, crises prompted by aggressive Kremlin-sponsored action around the world. It also documents his attempts to keep the peace while establishing a clear military superiority for the U.S. During this time, he also faced intense scrutiny domestically, with his political opponents criticizing him for not divulging information about the strength of the U.S. military or the weaknesses of the Soviet Union's nuclear arsenal.