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Did you know that C-SPAN answers the question, “Why is Eisenhower one of the best?” C-SPAN rankings encompass ten categories and feature over 100 history and presidential scholars who complete their rankings. The service is unbiased in its political leanings, although I’m sure many will claim they lean toward the “other side.” In the 2021 ranking, Eisenhower comes in fifth, behind Theodore Roosevelt and ahead of Harry Truman. Would you like to learn more about all the U.S. presidents?
Since the Eisenhower family didn’t have enough money for college, Dwight and his brother decided to alternate going to college, with each attending for a year while the other earned money to pay for it. His brother Edgar went first. Edgar asked for a second year. During that time, Ike decided to find an alternative way and approached his US Senator for an academy appointment. He didn’t ask specifically for West Point but said he’d take either West Point or Annapolis. In 1911, he received the appointment. Since he was nearly 21, the US Navy said he was too old, so he attended West Point instead.
His West Point class became known as the “Class the Stars Fell On,” as many members went on to achieve General ranks. Eisenhower and Omar Bradley reached the rank of five-star general, typically reserved for wartime. Bradley is the last general to have held the rank when he died in 1981. In addition to a high level of responsibility and accomplishments, the rank is equivalent to Field Marshal, as used in other countries, and is awarded when Generals command troops from multiple countries.
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Beginning his Army Career
After graduating, Eisenhower served in the army from 1915 until he ran for President in 1952. He took a leave of absence to serve as president of Columbia University from 1948 to 1950. He then became Commander of NATO forces in Europe until 1952. After serving his two terms as US President, his rank of General of the Army was restored.
The Eisenhower Museum in Abilene showcases his life, from his childhood in Abilene to his military career, spanning from Second Lieutenant to General of the Army. Of course, the focus is on his presidential years from 1953 to 1961. Here is the link to the museum’s website.
Eisenhower’s Army Career and Mamie’s Role
Ike served in many positions before World War II. The experience prepared him for his role during the war in Europe. His wife, Mamie, played a key role in his military service. Senior officers were expected to provide social opportunities for officers in their command and for other officers of similar rank. Ike, growing up poor, didn’t have the experience for that. Mamie was born in Iowa but grew up in Colorado. Her father was a wealthy investor who retired from active business participation at the age of 36. Her skills gained from her experience served Eisenhower well during his military and political career.
Due to his experience and job performance, he advanced quickly during WWII. In June 1942, Eisenhower assumed command of U.S. forces in Europe, a precursor to his next major challenge.
Taking a senior leadership role in D-Day
In December of 1943, he took charge of the D-Day invasion of Europe. At the time, the code word was Operation Overlord. Eisenhower’s skill in working with other military and government officials enabled him to coordinate the complex invasion involving multiple countries. Although the significant economic and military power came from Canada, the UK, and the US, more than a dozen other countries, mainly throughout Europe, played a role. While his skills and experience matched the job, the need to command troops from other nations elevated him to the rank of General of the Army.
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Eisenhower’s role was to bring everyone together to focus on the most significant military invasion the world had ever seen. Over 150,000 troops landed on the beach on that day. The allies took over the beaches and landed troops behind enemy lines to begin the push into Germany. The coordinated effort led to Germany’s surrender. Can you imagine the effort it took to accomplish such a massive task? Just think about the political side of it and the national loyalty of each of the countries involved. Eisenhower is considered a true American hero, and he’s often revered in Europe as well.
Eisenhower continued to lead the invasion of Germany until the German surrender. He was appointed Military Governor of the U.S.-occupied zone in Frankfurt, Germany. A year later, he took the role of U.S. Army Chief of Staff, reporting directly to the US President. Following a brief retirement to serve as president of Columbia University, he returned to Europe to head NATO, and then returned to the US to run for the presidency.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
After both parties tried to recruit him, he ran as a Republican in 1952. During the campaign, the continuing war in Korea was a significant issue. In October 1952, with a strong lead in the polls, he announced that he would go to Korea to form his own opinion of the state of the war. Although his political enemies and some members of his party used his statements against him, he won the election with a landslide victory in the electoral college. The electoral college “score” was 442 to 89.
Eisenhower did go to Korea before his inauguration. The visit was kept secret while he was there, but it was reported on national news upon his return. As a result of his visit and continued negotiations during his early presidency, the Korean War Armistice was signed on July 27, 1953.
The Eisenhower administration worked on the campaign promises, with the Interstate Highway System as a significant focus.
One “accomplishment” he would rather not have had was a severe heart attack in 1955. While playing golf on a vacation in Denver, the heart attack brought severe pain and could have killed him. He spent recovery time in Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver. The military brought in Dr. Paul Dudley from Massachusetts General Hospital for treatment, one of the most respected physicians in the United States. Ike fully recovered in six weeks.
The accomplishment came from Ike and his doctor when Ike decided to share with the world all the details of his attack and treatment. He didn’t want anything held back from the public. The sharing is likely to have contributed to a renewed focus on heart disease and breakthroughs in treatment in the years to come.
Second Term and accomplishments
Eisenhower was re-elected in 1956 to a second term. In 1961, he left office and turned the presidency over to John F. Kennedy.
Overall, his main accomplishments included:
- The Interstate Highway System.
- Continued New Deal Programs like Social Security.
- Create NASA and the National Defense Education Act.
- The first significant civil rights act since the end of the Reconstruction era.
- Eisenhower Doctrine, which authorized U.S. military aid to nations threatened by communist aggression.
- Economic prosperity, despite a minor recession in 1958.
- Foreign policy focused on containing the Soviet Union and its satellite states.
- In his farewell address, he famously warned of the “Military-Industrial Complex.”
Ike’s presidency was successful. He effectively transformed from a military leader to the presidency. The C-SPAN presidential ranking places him at #5 on the list, after Lincoln, Washington, FDR, and TR. Truman follows him on the list.
Ike and Truman had a few things in common. Mainly, Midwestern born and raised, and they both married “above their station!” And their in-laws were concerned about their daughters marrying someone of a lower social status. Since Ike went to West Point and had an illustrious military career, the similarity mostly ended there. Truman also served in World War I and went home to a life of a typical midwesterner until he was elected a US Senator from Missouri.
When traveling in the Midwest, make every effort to visit both of the presidential museums in Kansas and Missouri. They are about 160 miles apart. And if you’d like to learn more about Abilene, you can check it out here.
Classic Rock Recollection
“We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel
Rosenbergs, H-Bomb,
Sugar Ray, Panmunjom,
Brando, The King and I,
and The Catcher In The Rye
Eisenhower, Vaccine,
England’s got a new queen,
Marciano, Liverace,
Santayana goodbye
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No, we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight it
Written by Billy Joel
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