domestically (in the country), the economy was doing very well and the nation was prosperous. eisenhower supervised the creation of the interstate highway system and created the department of health, education, and welfare. eisenhower was a moderate conservative (near the center of the political spectrum). he wanted to continue some new deal programs such as social security, but at the same time, he wanted the government to be limited. at first, many criticized him for not doing enough to give civil rights to african americans, but later during his presidency, he signed two civil rights acts and sent federal troops to little rock, arkansas to make sure schools were desegregated.