Dwight Eisenhower Biography

Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was a five-star dwight-eisenhower general in the United States Army and the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961, and the last to be born in the 19th century. During World War II, he served as Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe, with responsibility for planning and supervising the successful invasion of France and Germany in 1944–45, from the Western Front. In 1951, he became the first supreme commander of NATO.

A Republican, Eisenhower entered the 1952 presidential race to counter the isolationism of Sen. Robert A. Taft, and to crusade against "Communism, Korea and corruption". He won by a landslide, defeating Democrat Adlai Stevenson and ending two decades of the New Deal Coalition holding the White House. As President, Eisenhower concluded negotiations with China to end the Korean War. He maintained pressure on the Soviet Union during the Cold War, gave priority to inexpensive nuclear weapons and reduced the other forces to save money. He had to play catch-up in the Space Race after the Soviets launched the Sputnik satellite in 1957.

On the domestic front, he helped remove Joseph McCarthy from power but otherwise left most political actions to his Vice President, Richard Nixon. Eisenhower did not end New Deal policies, and in fact enlarged the Social Security, and signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. He was the first term-limited president in accordance with the 22nd Amendment. His two terms were peaceful, and generally prosperous except for a sharp economic recession in 1958–59. Historians typically rank Eisenhower among the ten greatest U.S. presidents.

Eisenhower During the Second World War

Eisenhower played a crucial role in the allied effort during the Second World War. For the D-Day Normandy landings, Eisenhower was placed in supreme command. He was not just an expert military planner but consummate political operator who could smooth over cracks in the coalition. For example, he was masterful in dealing with the more 'hotheaded' allied commanders of Bernard Montgomery and General Patton. He frequently had fundamental disagreements with Montgomery over strategy, but, prevented this from becoming a source of friction.

Eisenhower as President

Eisenhower described himself as a 'dynamic conservative'. He expanded new deal social welfare legislation and helped implement a country wide road network. He also proposed and signed into effect two pieces of civil rights legislation (1957 and 1960). He also ordered the army to support the integration of black students into a previously all white school - Little Rock Central High School. This followed the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Brown v Board of Education Topeka 1954.

Though Eisenhower campaigned on an anti Communist platform, he pushed aside McCarthy and the excesses of the anti-Communist witch hunt.

Personal Life

Eisenhower married Mamie Geneva Doud of Boone, Iowa, on July 1, 1916. They had two sons, one of whom died in childhood of scarlet fever. Eisenhower declared himself to be a religious man, but not affiliated to any particular sect. He was instrumental in having the US adapt the motto 'In God we Trust' in 1956.

Incorporates some text from Wikipedia