A key feature of the New Look strategy was reliance on which elements?

• A. Strategic nuclear forces and air power
• B. Massed conventional ground forces
• C. Naval blockades only
• D. Domestic defense measures

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is deterrence through nuclear-armed air power rather than large-scale conventional forces. The New Look strategy, pursued under Eisenhower, centered on building a strong strategic nuclear arsenal and a dominant air capability—primarily through the Strategic Air Command—to threaten overwhelming retaliation against any aggression. This allowed the United States to deter the Soviet Union with far fewer conventional troops and a lower defense bill, shifting emphasis from mass ground forces to the credibility and reach of air and nuclear power. Naval blockades or domestic defense measures, while parts of broader policy at times, do not capture the defining feature of New Look, which was relying on strategic nuclear forces and air power as the core deterrent.