Interesting to speculate about what Nixon as Ike's protoge would have done about Vietnam. Most people don't realize that Ike was an Asia hand, having served on MacArthur's staff in the Phillipines and having been in charge of Far Eastern war plans. Ike had an aversion to the idea of US participation in an Asian land war because he understood the vast distances and huge populations involved. He also would have understood the essential strategic worthlessness of Vietnam. (The fact that the British left Vietnam for the French to colonize tells you all you need to know.)
IMHO, had the call been Ike's he would have said no US combat troops in Vietnam. Whether Nixon would have heeded the Old Man's advice is another question.
BTW, the Eisenhower Museum in Abilene is well worth a visit. It seemed to me much more space was devoted to his military career and WWII in particular than his Presidency. Definitely an interesting visit for military history buffs. There's also a really good restaurant in one of the old Victorian mansions nearby.
But... but... what about "the domino theory"??? LOL! Love the Brit line...