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With the Korean cease-fire, U.S. influence was concentrated primarily on military and economic areas. Even though the Eisenhower administration sought to restrain Rhee from obvious political errors and excessive measures against Koreans, they did not go to as far as the point of confrontation. In the eyes of the South Koreans, the United States played a critical role in the progress of democracy. Unlike Rhee, the U.S. paid attention to fair elections, civil liberties, adherence to constitutional process, and maintenance of a capable opposition party. However, in most cases, American influence on Korean political affairs resulted in problems for the bilateral relations between the two countries. While President Rhee personally managed South Korean foreign and domestic policies from the Korean armistice until 1960, the United States frequently met his bluffs and uncooperative stance over U.S. regional strategy towards the Far East and the Korean domestic policy.
Until 1960, the United States, for its part, accepted Rhee as South Korea's inevitable leader during his life time, despite the difficulties of dealing with him, and regardless of his undemocratic political regime. In 1960, however, the Eisenhower administration was constrained to give more support to his overthrow. It is therefore important to assess the extent to which the U.S. and South Korean governments clashed over Korean internal political affairs, thereby resulting in Rhee's resignation.
With the deterioration of Korean politics in 1960, the United States decided to withdraw support from Rhee. This chapter therefore assesses the extent and in which circumstances Rhee did not go along with U.S., and how his negative attitude induced withdrawal of American support when Rhee encountered great domestic resistance to his regime.
Democracy was considered an aspect of the U.S.-South Korean political relations. After the Korean War, U.S. policy makers planned to make South Korea a show case of democracy in Asia. Following the cease-fire, Rhee's position was undermined by his dispute with the U.S. over the Agreed Minute in 1953 and 1954,(1) and his attempt to amend the constitution in 1954 for political power. Washington often considered the issue of the succession of Rhee's Presidency because of his advanced age and his intractable stance against the U.S. For the United States, however, the main deterrence to an exchange of Rhee's position was...