World Bank Evaluates Egypt Repayment Capacity
World Bank officials studied the ability of Egypt's economy to absorb debt and manage the large requirements of a High Dam investment.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1956 in United States of America
Explore 167 historical events and records for United States of America in 1956.
Historical records for United States of America in 1956
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 167 unique records.
167Unique records
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38Named events on this page
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4Places on this page
January
Visit to Brazil for its Presidential inauguration
Visits Brazil for its Presidential inauguration
Eden Washington Conference
Meets British Prime Minister Anthony Eden in Washington for talks on international affairs.
J R Michels Office Boy
Lee worked briefly as an office boy for J. R. Michels, Inc., before taking messenger work at the Pfisterer Dental Laboratory.
February
Second-Term Candidacy Announced
Announces that he will seek a second presidential term.
March
US Aid Calculations Reflect Cold War Diplomacy
The United States assessed Egypt's relations with the Soviet bloc while considering whether to finalize support for the Aswan project.
Bank Loan Depends on Additional Government Grants
The World Bank financing plan depended on accompanying American and British grant support rather than a standalone Bank loan.
April
Vice Presidency
Announces candidacy for 2nd term as Vice President
May
Washington Debates Conditions of Dam Support
American officials considered financial and political conditions tied to major assistance for the planned Egyptian project.
Bank Holding Company Act
Eisenhower signs the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, placing bank holding companies under federal supervision and giving the Federal Reserve important responsibilities for their regulation and expansion.
Heartbreak Hotel
First enters the US charts with "Heartbreak Hotel"
June
Bank Financing Remains Conditional on Aid Partners
The World Bank did not have a completed independent financing arrangement because its contribution relied on outside government grants.
Emergency Ileitis Surgery
Undergoes emergency surgery for ileitis while serving as President.
American Egyptian Relations Complicate Dam Agreement
Washington's concerns about Egypt's international alignment weighed on decisions over the increasingly uncertain financing offer.
Federal-Aid Highway Act
The Act launches construction of the Interstate Highway System.
Government
30 June-11 July, Nixon pays a good will trip to Asia
July
Presidents Council on Youth Fitness
Establishes the President's Council on Youth Fitness to promote physical fitness among American young people.
United States Cancels Aid Offer
The American government withdrew its offer to finance the Aswan High Dam in July 1956.
United States Withdraws Aswan Financing Offer
John Foster Dulles announced that the United States would not proceed with its proposed financial contribution to the High Dam.
Withdrawal of American Financing
Eisenhower's administration withdraws its offer to support financing of the Aswan High Dam.
Withdrawal of Financing Offer
Dulles informs Egypt that the United States will not proceed with the financing offer.
World Bank High Dam Package Collapses
The Bank's proposed financing could not proceed as structured after the United States and Britain withdrew the supporting grant offers.
Aid Withdrawal Deepens Diplomatic Rift with Cairo
The American financing decision increased tension with Egypt and helped set the political context for Nasser's next dramatic move.
American Lawyers Examine Canal Concession Status
John Foster Dulles's department considered the legal distinction between Egyptian nationalization of a company and international rights of passage through the canal.
American Diplomacy Seeks Negotiated Canal Guarantees
John Foster Dulles pursued a negotiated settlement designed to protect navigation without treating immediate armed intervention as the preferred solution.
August
Dulles Discusses Suez Settlement With Eden
John Foster Dulles consulted Anthony Eden and British officials about a diplomatic response to nationalization rather than immediate military action.
Force Opposed in Initial Western Talks
Dulles urges Britain and France to pursue negotiation rather than immediate military action.
Washington Separates Canal Negotiations from Dam Aid
American diplomacy sought a settlement on navigation while the withdrawal of High Dam aid remained an unresolved grievance for Egypt.
United States Separates Passage Rights From Ownership
John Foster Dulles distinguished the future of unrestricted shipping from the question of who legally owned the nationalized operating company.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
A Conference on the IAEA Statute was held at the Headquarters of the United Nations to approve the founding document for the IAEA, which was negotiated in 1955-1956 by a group of twelve countries
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
A Conference on the IAEA Statute was held at the Headquarters of the United Nations to approve the founding document for the IAEA, which was negotiated in 1955-1956 by a group of twelve countries
Statute of IAEA
A Conference on the IAEA Statute was held at the Headquarters of the United Nations to approve the founding document for the IAEA, which was negotiated in 1955-1956 by a group of twelve countries
International Canal Talks Gain American Support
John Foster Dulles supported assembling canal users in London to examine a framework for reliable international passage after nationalization.
London Conference
Supports a maritime conference in London to seek international arrangements for operation of the Suez Canal.
United States Urges Peaceful Canal Settlement
John Foster Dulles argued that the participants should seek internationally agreed arrangements for operating the canal after its nationalization.
Dulles Develops International Canal Board Proposal
John Foster Dulles promoted a plan for a canal board involving Egypt and other states, intended to guarantee navigation under a new international arrangement.
Negotiators Refine Majority Eighteen Power Plan
John Foster Dulles helped shape the majority proposal for an internationally responsible canal administration to be negotiated with Egypt.
Eighteen Nations Coalesce Around American Proposal
John Foster Dulles gained support from eighteen participating countries for an international canal arrangement, while other delegations withheld support.
Vice Presidency
Renominated for a 2nd term as Vice President
Majority Proposal Submitted for Egyptian Discussion
John Foster Dulles's framework was adopted by eighteen governments as a basis for negotiations with Egypt, not as a binding decision of all participants.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.