Ida Elizabeth Eisenhower gave birth to her third son, Dwight David Eisenhower, on October 14, 1890. He was the younger brother of Arthur B.
Dwight Eisenhower was born in Denison, Texas where he lived with his family. His father David Jacob Eisenhower and his brother Edgar A. Eisenhower resided there as well. The family had previously lived in Abilene, Kansas but moved to Texas after their father’s general store closed.
David Eisenhower initially found employment at a small railroad in Kansas, earning a monthly wage of forty dollars. However, an acquaintance from Abilene convinced him to return and work at a newly established creamery plant. Although the salary offered was only slightly higher than what he earned in Texas, there were better opportunities for career growth. In 1891, the Eisenhower family embarked on a train journey to Kansas and settled in a humble residence on South East Second Street.
Eisenhower had three additional sons. The eldest, Roy J., was born on August 9, 1892 and possessed the same strength and good health as his older siblings.
The Eisenhowers had a son born on May 12, 1894, but sadly he passed away in infancy. However, they were blessed with another son named Earl D., born on February 1, 1898. With their family expanding, they made the decision to relocate to a larger house situated at 201 South East Fourth Street. Interestingly enough, this new residence was purchased from Mr. Eisenhower’s own brother, Abraham. Throughout Dwight’s early years, his affectionate older brothers fondly nicknamed him Ike.
Ike and his brothers were responsible for a variety of tasks at home. These responsibilities included waking up early in the morning to shovel coal into the furnace, milking the cow, washing dishes, and completing other household chores. Additionally, they had to feed the horse, take care of the garden, gather eggs, and cook meals.
The boys had their own extra money from their father, who gave them a small portion of the garden to grow and sell crops in Abilene. This provided them with some money and despite not having much, they were content. While the children were at school and her husband was at work, Ikes mother ran the household by managing the garden and livestock to ensure that the family was fed. She also primarily handled discipline, except for the most serious misconduct which her husband took care of.
She was the anchor of the household and played a crucial role in holding it together. Her actions were guided by her strong religious convictions, deeply rooted in Christianity. She firmly opposed any form of violence and war. As for Ike’s father, he was a highly respected and reserved individual.
Despite his infrequent displays of affection towards his children, the father had a well-regarded reputation in the community, and the boys were aware of their father’s genuine love for them. Ike consistently exhibited bravery, which many attributed to his mother, and he remarkably showcased this courage during eighth grade.
On his way home from school, Ike had a minor accident resulting in a small cut on his knee. Initially, he didn’t pay much attention to it. Unfortunately, within the next 48 hours, the wound became infected with blood poisoning. Consequently, his lower leg began to swell and turned black.
The medical professionals promptly intervened by marking a black line just above his kneecap and recommending amputation as a preventative measure against death for Ike. Nevertheless, Ike bravely expressed his preference for death over living as a disabled individual. Ultimately, Ike’s parents honored his decision and granted him the final say.
During the next two weeks, the swelling gradually extended and the pain became unbearable for Ike. He realized he was on the verge of losing consciousness, so he urgently summoned his brothers and requested their assurance that they would prevent the doctors from amputating. Throughout the following nights, Ikes brothers maintained watch at the entrance to his room. Despite his leg growing darker and increasingly swollen, with a foul-smelling pus seeping out of the wound, the doctors concluded that it would be considered as manslaughter if they didn’t proceed with the amputation. However, Ike remained resolute in his decision.
Despite taking time, Ike’s swelling and fever subsided the following day, resulting in his complete healing. During his early years, Ike exhibited a strong temper and stubbornness. However, during high school, he found an outlet for his energy. Excelling as a baseball outfielder and football tackle, Ike became one of the town’s top athletes. Additionally, he demonstrated leadership skills by founding and presiding over the Abilene High School Athletic Association.
The club’s equipment was funded by the dues of its members. Ike, a student who was slightly above average, achieved the following grades in his first year: English – 91, Composition – 86, Geography – 86, Algebra – 86, and German – 89. Although he wasn’t the top student overall, he displayed exceptional expertise in military history.
In 1909, Ike completed his high school education and desired to pursue college like his brother Edgar. Unfortunately, their family lacked the financial means to support both of them. To overcome this obstacle, Ike and Edgar devised a strategy. Edgar would enroll in college for the first year while Ike secured employment to send money to support Edgar’s education. They agreed to alternate between attending college and working each year. Throughout this period, Ike held various jobs until eventually becoming a night foreman at the creamery. Remarkably, he succeeded in sending Edgar over two hundred dollars.
Then, one of Ike’s friends had a brilliant suggestion: he could contact Senators and ask them to write recommendations for him. With these recommendations, Ike could attend West Point for free and also play football. As soon as he had the opportunity, Ike started making phone calls. Due to his father’s reputation, the Senators were more than willing to write recommendations for him. Once he had gathered enough recommendations, Ike dedicated himself to studying intensely in order to pass the entrance exam. Finally, in the spring of 1911, he went to St.
Louis successfully passed the exam at the same time that Ike left for West Point in early June of 1911. As a military school, West Point was notorious for its rigorous demands. The superior officers managed to instill in the young cadets a perception of insignificance.
They were required to stay in tents during the summer, with many of them being torn down by their instructors while they were asleep. The main purpose of most of West Point’s rules was to humble and eliminate those who lacked motivation to work. Eisenhower’s pride and sense of humor aided his ability to endure the hazing. During his time at West Point, Ike only did the bare minimum to avoid expulsion but did not do enough to stay out of trouble.
After completing his education at West Point, Ike’s discipline ranking was one hundred twenty-fifth out of one hundred sixty-two. Despite being small in size, Ike managed to be involved in football and baseball during his first year, albeit as a member of the junior varsity teams. Nevertheless, he committed himself to enhancing his skills and consequently secured a place on the starting line-up for both sports in the subsequent year.
Initially, Ike held the position of starting halfback and had potential to become an All-American. Regrettably, during a game in the middle of the season, he sustained a knee injury. Despite this setback, he remained optimistic about his ability to return for the following year. However, unexpectedly, while practicing on his horse just a few days later, his knee gave way resulting in significant damage to both cartilage and tendons. As a result,
Ike’s athletic career came to an abrupt halt,
leading him into a profound state of depression.
The sole motivation for his continued enrollment at West Point was the opportunity for a cost-free education. His spirits were somewhat uplifted when he was selected to instruct the inexperienced team and simultaneously became a cheerleader within the Academy. However, unlike his athletic accomplishments, Ike did not excel in academics. During his senior year, he ranked fifty-ninth out of one hundred sixty-four classmates in civil and military engineering, eighty-second in ordnance and gunnery, forty-fifth in law, seventy-second in Spanish, and fifty-seventh in practical military engineering. Overall, he finished sixty-first within his graduating class.
Despite being viewed as unexceptional by his officers, Ikes’s classmates held a different perception. He garnered popularity and was well-liked by all. His amicable nature earned him friendships and respect from everyone. While his injured knee prevented him from joining the military, Ike remained unconcerned. He contemplated venturing to Argentina but faced an abrupt halt. Finally, relenting, the Army doctor granted him a position in the Army.
Dwight David Eisenhower became a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Infantry in June 1915. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, Ike was promoted to captain and tasked with training soldiers. Although he wanted to serve overseas, he was selected to lead Camp Colt in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania – the site where the army was forming its tank corps. In October 1918, he received orders to transport tanks to France but unfortunately, the war ended before his unit could leave.
In 1919, Ike collaborated with tanks at Camp Meade, Maryland and crossed paths with Colonel George S. Patton Jr., cultivating a lifelong friendship. In 1922, as a major, he was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone under the guidance of Brigadier General Fox Conner, a remarkable soldier and teacher renowned for his expertise in military history. Conner imparted extensive knowledge to Ike during this time.
Conner noticed Ike’s abilities and made arrangements for him to attend the Army’s Command and General Staff School in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Despite the intense competition, Ike successfully graduated in 1926 as the highest-ranking student among a class of approximately three hundred individuals. Due to his outstanding performance, Ike secured a position as an aide to General John J. Pershing, who was previously the army’s chief of staff and presently oversaw the commission responsible for supervising war memorials in France.
Ike interrupted his service to attend the Army War College, where he graduated in 1928 as the top student. Afterward, he journeyed to France to compile a guidebook on the European battlefields of World War I. In 1932, General Douglas MacArthur, who was then chief of staff, chose Ike as his aide. However, MacArthur resigned as chief of staff in 1935 to become the principal military advisor for the Philippine government and took Major Eisenhower with him. Ike held this position until 1939 when he returned to the United States Army for another assignment.
With the commencement of World War II in Europe in 1939, Lieutenant Colonel Ike’s expertise became highly sought after at the age of forty-nine. Although initially uninvolved, the United States expressed concern about eventually joining the war. As a result, in 1940, the United States Congress introduced a military draft, leading to a rapid expansion of the army.
Following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United States was prompted to join World War II against the Axis Powers. General George C. Marshall then appointed Ike as the leader of the War Plans Division in Washington D.C. The differing perspectives on combatting the war arose due to the challenges posed by Japan in the Pacific and Germany in the Atlantic. As Chief American War Planner, Ike advocated for prioritizing Europe and implementing a strategy known as Europe First, which focused on allocating substantial resources against Germany.
He believed that it was not wise to attack in the Pacific until Germany was defeated by the Allies, which included the United States, Canada, Great Britain, France, the USSR, and their war allies. Both Marshall and President Franklin D. Roosevelt agreed with this viewpoint. Marshall promoted Ike to major general and made him head of the Operations Division in 1942 due to his impressive abilities. In June, Marshall further elevated him to lieutenant general and appointed him as commander of the United States Army’s European Theater of Operations based in London.
In the offensive against Germany, Eisenhower would be leading the United States forces. Initially, Ike planned to start the invasion in spring 1943. However, the British objected, citing the insufficient readiness of the United States Army and lack of combat experience. Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister, successfully advocated for an invasion of North Africa instead. Reluctantly, Marshall agreed, and Ike was appointed as the commander of Allied Forces in the North African campaign, known as Operation Torch.
During November 1942, Ike conducted his initial invasion by deploying British and United States troops to Algeria and Morocco, resulting in a victorious assault. However, progress towards Tunis was hindered by adverse weather conditions, specifically rain and mud. Simultaneously, Ike devoted a substantial amount of time negotiating with a puppet regime installed by the Germans in Algeria. In exchange for assistance against Rommel, the regime requested temporary control over Algeria.
Initially, Ike argued and later attained the position of general. In February 1943, Rommel initiated a counterattack at Kasserine Pass in Tunisia. This event marked Ike’s initial significant battle, in which he performed inadequately. His soldiers experienced significant defeat initially, but he successfully rebounded. Afterward, he opposed Rommel’s progression and then took the offensive. By early May, under his command, the Allied forces effectively expelled the Germans from North Africa.
In July 1943, Eisenhower initiated the offensive on Sicily with the objective of freeing the island, a task that took over a month to complete. In September of that year, he led the attack on German-occupied mainland Italy. Despite successfully establishing beachheads, his troops faced challenges in progressing towards Rome due to the formidable German defense. Meanwhile, during the ongoing Italian campaign in December 1943, Eisenhower was appointed by the combined chief of staff of the Allies to supervise Operation Overlord and worked together with them to develop invasion strategies.
The upcoming invasion of France and Germany, set for spring 1944, included a formidable Allied force comprising more than 150,000 British and American soldiers as well as various bombers, fighter planes, and ships. General Ike, designated as the Supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, demonstrated unwavering commitment through his tireless twenty-hour work days. Furthermore, his troops underwent intensive training involving live ammunition.
The main issue he faced was the lack of enough landing coast to bring in eight divisions for the attack, while Rommel had over fifty divisions. To ensure success, the Allied forces needed to surprise the enemy. Therefore, Ike made the decision to launch an attack towards Normandy rather than Lalais, where the German forts and troop concentrations were strongest. In order for this plan to work, it was crucial that the Germans did not transfer more troops to Normandy before the invasion. Additionally, Ike aimed to cut off the battlefield from the French railway system to prevent the Germans from bringing in reinforcements. To achieve this, he insisted on utilizing the Allied bomber fleet to destroy the railways.
Ike threatened to resign if his Transportation Plan was not adopted. Allied bombers attacked railroad targets in April and May, isolating northern France by June. The military set D-Day for June 5.
Despite the storm on June 4 that caused the invasion to be delayed, General Ike held a meeting with his officers on June 5. Despite the continuing heavy rain and wind, they anticipated that the storm would subside by the afternoon and the weather on June 6 would be favorable for an amphibious assault. Over 150,000 soldiers were eagerly awaiting their orders.
Either invading that night or waiting until June 19, when the tides would be favorable again for a safe landing, was a decision that Eisenhower sought the opinions of his associates about. The army generals, British commander Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, and United States General Omar N. Bradley, all expressed their desire to proceed.
The air force generals and navy admirals desired a delay, but only Ike had the authority to make the decision. After careful consideration, Ike ultimately chose to proceed. The operation began just after midnight, as the airborne troops commenced their descent onto Normandy. Simultaneously, infantry troops arrived via landing craft at first light. By nightfall on June 6, the Allies successfully positioned the majority of their forces along the Normandy coast. This marked an unprecedented triumph, as it became recognized as the greatest invasion in the history of warfare.
Over a period of seven weeks, the Allies made slow progress in expanding their beach hold, but were unsuccessful in breaking through German coastal defenses. The British and Americans occupied opposite sides of the Allied front. In July, General Bradley’s first Army successfully broke through at Saint-Lo, with support from General Patton’s United States Third Army. Liberation of Paris occurred in late August, and by September, the Germans had been driven out of France.
General of the Army Ike was promoted to the highest rank in the United States Army on December 15. However, Germany launched a surprise offensive the next day in Belgium’s Ardennes region, catching the Allies off guard. The American troops, greatly outnumbered, were forced to retreat. Moreover, bad weather grounded the previously dominant Allied air force, leaving them unable to provide any assistance.
The Allies were on the verge of panic as the deep German advancement caused a bulge in their lines, earning the battle the moniker “Battle of the Bulge”. On December 19, when Ike convened a meeting with his top generals, they arrived in a discouraged state. Ike informed them that the Germans had emerged from their defensive positions and exposed themselves, presenting an opportunity to launch a counterattack and catch them off guard.
The key point to hold in Ardennes, Bastogne, was identified by him. The United States One Hundred First Airborne Division was ordered to the town. The Germans surrendered it on all sides with greater forces, however the Americans resisted stubbornly. The Germans presented a surrender ultimatum, but Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe, in command of the town, responded with the famous one-word reply, Nuts! The One Hundred First Airborne withstood until Pattons Third Army fought through and relieved Bastogne on December 26. From the north, Ike desired Montgomery to counterattack, although Montgomery was once again too cautious and did not respond. Consequently, the German offensive in the Bulge was halted but most of the German forces managed to escape. Starting in early March 1945, the Allies resumed their broad-front offense.
The original plan was for the British forces to cross the Rhine River from the north while Patton’s forces crossed from the south. However, the Germans thwarted this plan by destroying the bridges over the Rhine during their retreat. Despite this setback, on March 7th, the First Army of the United States discovered a bridge that remained intact at Remagen and expanded their foothold. As a result, German resistance in the region began to diminish. Prior to this, Britain, the United States, France, and the Soviet Union had agreed to partition Germany into eastern and western regions. Likewise, Berlin was also intended to be divided accordingly.
The British desired to reach Berlin before the Soviets in order to secure the city within the western sector. Nevertheless, Eisenhower questioned whether his forces could accomplish this objective without facing opposition and was unwilling to sacrifice American lives solely for a political aim. Consequently, the Soviets were allowed to assume control of Berlin, leading to a minimum loss of one hundred thousand men. On May 7, 1945, at his headquarters in Reims, France, Eisenhower received Germany’s unconditional surrender.
In Europe, General Marshall praised Ike for his service and he continued to lead the American occupation forces in western Germany until 1945. During this time, he implemented new democratic measures in Germany like granting journalists the opportunity to share their opinions and enabling teachers to present alternate perspectives. From 1945 to 1948, Ike held the position of Chief of Staff of the Army.
During his time as a five-star general, he was responsible for overseeing the demobilization process which resulted in reducing the army’s size from over eight million individuals to under one million. After retiring, he wrote “Crusade in Europe” in 1948 to document his experiences. Ike became highly popular in the United States, with both political parties considering him as a potential presidential nominee for that year.
Despite being offered a position, he declined and justified his choice by stating that someone dedicated to a military career should not enter the field of politics. Instead, he accepted the role of president at Columbia University in New York City from 1948 to 1950. Following World War II, East Germany and several other Eastern European countries came under Soviet control. These nations were subsequently governed by Communist regimes imposed by the Soviet Union, posing a potential threat to Western Europe.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed to address the need for a defense alliance. NATO was established through collaboration between the United States, Canada, and European nations. In 1950, President Harry S. Truman designated Ike as the commander of NATO forces with the goal of building an army that could prevent Communist encroachment into Western Europe. Nonetheless, two major obstacles hindered his endeavors. Firstly, the European nations were still in the process of recovering from war and lacked resources to mobilize new armies.
The Korean War started in June 1950 when North Korea, a Communist country, invaded South Korea. This caused American troops to be redirected. Meanwhile, as the next presidential election approached, Republican Party leaders who were in favor of NATO approached Eisenhower. The party had lost five consecutive elections and Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio, a conservative who opposed NATO, was dominating it. There were concerns that if Taft won or lost to President Truman, he would secure the nomination and potentially withdraw the United States from NATO. Although Truman strongly supported NATO, his domestic policies were considered too liberal by Eisenhower’s supporters.
He developed a strong sense of obligation to serve and made his decision in April 1952 to run for the Republican nomination. While Eisenhower performed well in state primary elections, the selection of convention delegates in caucuses was controlled by Taft supporters. Consequently, it appeared Taft would secure the majority of delegates.
During the convention in Chicago, it seemed that half of California’s delegates were inclined towards supporting Taft. Nevertheless, Senator Richard M. Nixon intervened and ensured Eisenhower’s nomination instead. This resulted in Nixon being selected as the vice presidential candidate. As Eisenhower became the nominee, President Truman opted not to seek re-election. Consequently, Governor Adlai E. was nominated by the Democratic Party.
In comparison to the issues, Stevenson of Illinois received less attention. The main factors contributing to Ike’s victory were his slogan, “I like Ike,” and his kind and compassionate nature. He secured thirty-four million votes, while Stevenson received twenty-seven million votes. Furthermore, Ike triumphed in thirty-nine out of forty-eight states and the Republicans gained control of both houses of Congress. This was a notable accomplishment for the Republican Party following their loss in the previous five elections.
After his inauguration, it became clear that Ike’s main goal was to end the Korean War instead of being on the offensive. He warned the Communist Chinese that if they did not agree to a ceasefire, he would have no limits on the weapons he would use, which could potentially include nuclear weapons. Finally, in July 1953, China signed the armistice. This resulted in South Korea being saved and both Koreas returning to their previous borders. The following year, John Foster Dulles, Ike’s secretary of staff, and Vice President Nixon advised him to get involved in Vietnam; however, Ike rejected this suggestion. As a result, the Communist Vietminh Army successfully trapped French Colonial Forces at Dien Bien in Vietnam.
The French surrendered at Dien Bien, causing Vietnam to be divided into two states: the Communist North and the anti-Communist South. In September 1954, the United States provided protection to South Vietnam under the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization and offered economic aid as well. During his campaign, Ike had advocated for the liberation of Eastern European countries under Communist control. However, once in office, both Ike and Dulles embraced Truman’s containment policy. They refrained from taking any military action against the Soviets, even when Soviet tanks were deployed in Hungary in 1956 to quell an uprising. Ike’s decision not to intervene in Hungary stemmed from his belief that nuclear war was unthinkable.
He believed that Communism was a detrimental system that would eventually self-destruct. Despite recommendations by members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to initiate a pre-emptive nuclear attack on the Soviets while the United States possessed a surplus of atomic bombs, Ike rejected these suggestions due to his desire for peace. He named his defense policy the New Look, which relied on nuclear weapons as a deterrent against the Soviets. However, he resisted allocating the large amount of funds demanded by politicians for these weapons and showed reluctance in investing money towards rocket development. Consequently, he experienced embarrassment in 1957 when the Soviets successfully launched the first manmade satellite into space.
Ike, a fiscal conservative, prioritized balancing the federal budget above lowering taxes. He succeeded in balancing three out of his eight budgets. Although conservative Republicans desired a rollback of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal programs and a less involved government, Ike’s actions left them disappointed.
He continued and expanded most of the New Deal programs, including Social Security. In 1954, he significantly broadened Social Security to cover seven million self-employed farmers and implemented federal disability insurance. Furthermore, his public works initiatives surpassed those of Roosevelt. Notably, he oversaw the creation of the Saint Lawrence Seaway in 1954 and the unprecedented construction of the Interstate Highway System in 1956.
During his presidency, Dwight D. Eisenhower promoted the construction of nuclear power plants and supported government-funded research for peaceful applications of nuclear energy. In 1955, Eisenhower experienced a heart attack but made a swift recovery. Despite being assured by doctors that he had another decade to live and could physically serve a second term, he chose to retire. However, the Republicans, fearing a loss in the 1956 election without him, persuaded him to continue his service. Consequently, he was nominated uncontestedly, while the Democrats once again nominated Stevenson.
Ike’s victory in the election was by a margin of nine and a half million votes, nearly twice the margin of victory in 1952. However, his second term encountered severe problems including corruption allegations against Sherman Adams, his chief of staff. Adams faced accusations of accepting gifts from a businessman who had issues with the Internal Revenue Service. Alongside this scandal, Ike dealt with various challenges during his second term such as a civil rights crisis in 1957, difficulties with Fidel Castro, clashes with Communist China in both 1955 and 1958, and conflicts with the Soviets over Berlin in 1959. Despite these obstacles, Ike firmly rejected extremes and maintained a moderate stance as a political leader.
He advocated for a balanced approach to political issues, asserting that extreme positions on both the right and left are always flawed in any political disagreement. Due to the Constitutional prohibition on seeking re-election in 1960, he opted to retire to his own farm near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. On the farm, he raised cattle and spent winter months playing golf in Palm Desert, California. Despite retiring, he continued his engagement with politics.
In 1964, President Dwight D. Eisenhower showed his backing for Republican presidential hopeful Barry Goldwater, although Goldwater was not victorious in the election. Nonetheless, during the subsequent election four years later, Eisenhower endorsed his ex-Vice President Richard Nixon, who emerged triumphant. Regrettably, Eisenhower’s health deteriorated shortly thereafter. In 1965, he endured three additional heart attacks and spent his final months at Walter Reed Army Hospital. On March 28, 1961, President Eisenhower passed away.
