A Short Biography of Dwight D. Eisenhower

By Rocky Wilson
Author of Sharene:
Death: A Prerequisite For Life

A Short Biography of Dwight D. Eisenhower

Any biography of Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th president of the United States, must meld his military successes in World War II with his political successes while serving in the White House from 1953 to 1961.

For the Texas-born world leader--whose favorite foods included roast stuffed breast of veal, prune whip, and fluffy turnips, and favorite hobbies were painting and playing bridge--was extremely successful on both fronts.


After graduating from West Point in 1915 and later serving under the tutelage of General John J. Pershing and General Douglas MacArthur, Ike was summoned to the U.S. War Department immediately following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and placed in charge of the U.S.‘s Pacific front of World War II. Shortly thereafter, in 1942, he was Commander-in-Chief of allied forces in North Africa, and on D-Day, 1944, Eisenhower was Supreme Commander of troops who successfully invaded France at Normandy.

Only six months into his presidency--eight years often referred to as Cold War years because of frigid international relationships between democratic nations, primarily the U.S., and socialist nations such as the Soviet Union--President Eisenhower helped negotiate a truce to end the Korean War.

Other milestones during his presidency included signing the first U. S. civil rights legislation since the conclusion of the Civil War nearly 100 years earlier, signing the bill that created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and sending federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas, to enforce court-ordered integration.

Important events in the life of Dwight David Eisenhower include:

* Born October 14, 1890, in Denison, Texas

* 1909 Graduated from Abilene High School, Abilene, Kansas; a star baseball/ football player

* 1915 Graduated from West Point, commissioned as second lieutenant

* 1916 Married Mamie Geneva Doud

* 1933-1935 Served as military aide to General Douglas MacArthur

* 1942 Named Commander-in-Chief of allied forces, North Africa

* 1944 Supreme Commander of troops who helped liberate Europe at battle of Normandy, France

* 1950 Named Supreme Allied Commander of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

* 1953-1961 Served two terms as president of the United States

* 1955 Suffered heart attack, and after five months doctors reported his recovery

* 1969 Died in Washington D.C., after long illness

A humanitarian--as well as a renowned military leader with an uncanny ability to assess and employ the skills of people around him and a hard-working president willing to pursue moderate policies of “Modern Republicanism,”--Eisenhower once said of the Korean War truce he worked hard to bring about, “We do not greet it (the truce) with wild rejoicing. We know how dear its cost has been in life and treasure.”

In another quotable statement made during his second year in office, Ike reportedly said, “Faith is the mightiest force that man has at his command. It impels human beings to greatness in thought and word and deed.”

This biography of Dwight D. Eisenhower will conclude with the man’s favorite motto: “Gently in Manner--Strongly in Deed.”