Did Eisenhower's policies indicate a new direction for American conservatives? How do they compare to general conservative policies of today (be sure to not to confuse general ideals with the extremist and sensationalist headlines in the news)?

Eisenhower's domestic policies followed a program that he referred to as "Modern Republicanism." To some degree, his programs pursued a new direction in American conservatism. While Eisenhower criticized New Deal-like programs that enlarged the federal government, he also did not believe, unlike Old Guard Republicans of the time, that the government should be totally divorced from improving the lives of people, such as the jobless or elderly, who needed help. During his administration, he expanded the Social Security program and supported government investment in public housing programs. In what is perhaps his most lasting legacy as president, he passed the Instate Highway Program in 1956; this program created over 40,000 miles of roads and improved the nation's transportation infrastructure.
In foreign affairs, "Ike," as Eisenhower was known, eschewed the isolationism of previous conservative politicians and embraced a program that involved fighting communism abroad while maintaining the prosperity of the American economy. He began to rely on secret actions by the CIA to promote anti-communist activities abroad. In this sense, he pursued a new direction in American conservatism related to foreign affairs, as conservatives in the past had generally favored isolationism.
Compared with conservative policies of today, Eisenhower was far more moderate politically. He favored some government intervention in areas such as public housing that conservatives today do not support. In addition, he believed that the government had a role in balancing in the budget while fighting foes abroad, while conservative presidents in more recent years (such as Reagan) have pushed the US into large deficits to pay for defense spending.
https://millercenter.org/president/eisenhower/domestic-affairs

https://millercenter.org/president/eisenhower/foreign-affairs