When was the last time a Republican won a presidential election without the help of dirty tricks

[moondust]

9. Ike, but...

Playing such a large role in winning WWII, he was a real hero who didn't need dirty tricks to win his elections. Unfortunately, that large role in winning "the big one" apparently instilled in him some costly hubris that continues to infect Republicans.

He approved the overthrow of Mosaddegh in Iran.

~
Judging Mosaddegh to be unreliable and fearing a Communist takeover in Iran, UK prime minister Winston Churchill and the Eisenhower administration decided to overthrow Iran's government, though the preceding Truman administration had opposed a coup, fearing the precedent that Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) involvement would set.
~
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_Iranian_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat

He also apparently believed deeply in the domino theory that led to the long war in Vietnam.

McCarthy Era/Red Scare stuff.