Dwight D. Eisenhower

• 1. A Boy From Abilene

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  Dwight David Eisenhower was born in Denison, Texas, on the 14th of October 1890. His family moved to Abilene, Kansas, the following year and lived there for most of his childhood. The Eisenhowers struggled financially after their general store failed in Hope, Kansas. They returned to Kansas with only twenty-four dollars to their name. David Eisenhower worked as a railroad mechanic and later at a creamery to support his large family. Dwight attended Abilene High School but injured his knee during his freshman year. A doctor diagnosed a life-threatening infection that extended into his groin. He refused amputation and surprisingly recovered after repeating his freshman year. He and his brother Edgar made a pact to take turns attending college while the other worked to earn tuition. Dwight worked as a night supervisor at the Belle Springs Creamery. When Edgar needed a second year, Dwight consented to attend school himself. A friend named Edward Hazlett urged him to apply to the Naval Academy since no tuition was required. Eisenhower requested consideration for either Annapolis or West Point with his Senator Joseph L. Bristow. He won the entrance-exam competition but exceeded the age limit for the Naval Academy. He accepted an appointment to West Point in 1911.

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• 2. The Class That Stars Fell On

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  Eisenhower graduated from West Point in the middle of the class of 1915. This group became known as the class the stars fell on because fifty-nine members eventually became general officers. He relished traditions and sports at the academy but found hazing difficult. His discipline rating was less than stellar due to regular violations of detailed regulations. English remained his best subject while his performance in other areas stayed average. He thoroughly enjoyed engineering courses emphasizing science and mathematics. Athletics proved a major disappointment when he failed to make the baseball team. He joined the varsity football team as a starter at halfback in 1912. During that season he tried to tackle legendary player Jim Thorpe of the Carlisle Indians. He suffered a torn knee while being tackled in the next game which ended his playing career. He reinjured his knee later on horseback and in the boxing ring. He turned to fencing and gymnastics instead. He served as junior varsity football coach and cheerleader which caught General Frederick Funston's attention. After graduation Second Lieutenant Eisenhower requested assignment in the Philippines but received orders for Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas under Funston's command. In 1916 Funston convinced him to become football coach for Peacock Military Academy.

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• 3. Tanks And The Road To War

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  After World War I Eisenhower reverted to captain rank then promoted to major within days. A transcontinental Army convoy tested vehicles from Washington D.C. to San Francisco averaging only four miles per day. This slow progress dramatized the need for improved roads later becoming a signature issue for him. He commanded a battalion of tanks at Camp Meade Maryland until 1922. His schooling focused on tank warfare nature and role in future conflicts. Close collaboration with George Patton and Sereno Brett strengthened his expertise in speed-oriented offensive tactics. Superiors strongly discouraged these leading-edge ideas preferring strict infantry support roles. Eisenhower faced court-martial threats for continued publication of proposed tank deployment methods before relenting. From 1920 he served under generals Fox Conner John Pershing Douglas MacArthur and George Marshall. As executive officer to General Conner in Panama Canal Zone he studied military history including Carl von Clausewitz On War. Conner called him one of most capable efficient and loyal officers ever met. On Conner recommendation he attended Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth Kansas graduating first in class of two hundred forty-five officers. During late 1920s career stalled as military priorities diminished while friends resigned for business jobs.

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• 4. The Man Who Planned Torch

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  In November 1942 Eisenhower became Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force of North African Theater designated Operation Torch. Campaign planning occurred within underground headquarters inside Rock Gibraltar making him first non-British person to command Gibraltar in two centuries. French cooperation deemed necessary yet multiple rival factions created preposterous situation. He supported François Darlan as High Commissioner despite previous high offices in Vichy France. Allied leaders thunderstruck by move though none offered guidance with problem in planning operation. Darlan assassinated December 24 by Fernand Bonnier de La Chapelle French antifascist monarchist. Eisenhower later appointed Henri Giraud as High Commissioner installed by Allies as Darlan commander-in-chief. Operation Torch served valuable training ground for combat command skills during initial phase Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel moved into Kasserine Pass. Eisenhower created confusion ranks by interference execution battle plans subordinates initially indecisive removal Lloyd Fredendall commanding II Corps. In February 1943 authority extended across Mediterranean basin including British Eighth Army commanded General Sir Bernard Montgomery. After Axis capitulation North Africa oversaw invasion Sicily Mussolini Italian leader fallen Italy switched attention mainland Operation Avalanche. Germans pursued aggressive buildup adding nineteen divisions initially outnumbering Allied forces two to one.

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• 5. The Gamble On Normandy

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  December 1943 President Roosevelt decided Eisenhower not Marshall would be Supreme Allied Commander Europe following month resumed command ETOUSA designated officially Supreme Allied Commander Allied Expeditionary Force SHAEF serving dual role until hostilities ended May 1945. Charged positions carrying out Allied assault coast Normandy June 1944 code name Operation Overlord liberation Western Europe invasion Germany. First struggles involved Allied leaders officers matters vital success Normandy invasion argued Roosevelt essential agreement De Gaulle use French resistance forces covert operations against Germans advance Operation Overlord. Admiral Ernest J King fought Eisenhower refusal provide additional landing craft Pacific insisted British give exclusive command strategic air forces facilitate Overlord threatening resign Churchill relented did. Designed bombing plan France advance Overlord argued Churchill concern civilian casualties de Gaulle interjected casualties justified Eisenhower prevailed. Skillfully managed retain services often unruly George Patton severely reprimanded Patton earlier slapped subordinate then gave speech making improper comments postwar policy. D-Day Normandy landings the 6th of June 1944 costly successful Two months later August 15 invasion Southern France took place control forces southern invasion passed AFHQ SHAEF Many thought victory Europe come summer end Germans capitulated almost year.

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• 6. The General Who Became President

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  Eisenhower returned Washington November 1945 replace Marshall Chief Staff Army making first Chief Staff history post serve Philippine American War. Main role rapid demobilization millions soldiers delayed lack shipping convinced 1946 Soviet Union want war friendly relations maintained strongly supported new United Nations favored involvement control atomic bombs. Truman guided State Department ignored Eisenhower Pentagon indeed opposed use atomic bomb Japanese writing Japanese ready surrender necessary hit awful thing hated see country first use weapon. Visited Warsaw 1945 invited Bolesław Bierut decorated highest military decoration shocked scale destruction city. By mid-1947 east-west tensions economic recovery Germany Greek Civil War escalated agreed containment policy stop Soviet expansion. In January 1948 stated through Army not available accept nomination high political office life-long professional soldiers absence obvious overriding reason abstain seeking high political office. Maintained no political party affiliation time believed forgoing only opportunity president Thomas Dewey considered probable winner would presumably serve two terms meaning age sixty-six 1956 too old run. In 1948 became President Columbia University Ivy League university New York City inducted Phi Beta Kappa choice subsequently characterized good fit either party. During year memoir Crusade Europe published major financial success sought advice Augusta National Roberts tax implications due course profit substantially aided ruling without precedent Department Treasury held Eisenhower not professional writer marketing lifetime asset experiences thus pay capital gains tax six hundred thirty-five thousand advance instead much higher personal tax rate saved about four hundred thousand dollars.

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• 7. The Road Builder And The Cold Warrior

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  Eisenhower championed signed bill authorizing Interstate Highway System 1956 justified project Federal Aid Highway Act 1956 essential American security Cold War goal create improved highways influenced involvement Army 1919 Transcontinental Motor Convoy assigned observer mission involved sending convoy Army vehicles coast coast subsequent experience German autobahn convinced benefits Interstate Highway System system could used runway airplanes beneficial war efforts Franklin D Roosevelt put system place Federal-Aid Highway Act 1944 thought interstate highway system beneficial military operations support continued economic growth legislation initially stalled Congress issuance bonds finance project legislative effort renewed signed law June 1956 Advanced Research Projects Agency ARPA put together early 1958 response successful launch first orbital satellite Soviet Union Sputnik 1 ARPA eventually created ARPANET predecessor internet. Created NASA civilian space agency October 1958 signed landmark science education law improved relations American scientists fear spread United States Soviet Union invade spread communism wanted create surveillance satellite detect threats ballistic missiles protect United States strategic terms devised American basic strategy nuclear deterrence based triad strategic bombers land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles ICBMs submarine-launched ballistic missiles SLBMs.

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