Scramblin' thru... the U.S. Presidents
"Ike"
"The Kansas Cyclone"
"D-Day"
"Duckpin"
Personal Information
October 14, 1890
Denison, Texas |
March 28, 1969
(age 78) Washington, D.C. |
Cause of Death:
Cardiovascular disease |
Height: 5'10 1/2"
|
Weight: 175 lbs.
|
Presbyterian
|
Level: College
(U.S. Military Academy, a.k.a. "West Point") |
Married: Once
(Mamie, 1916) |
Biological Kids: 2
|
Wrote:
3 books |
Career BEFORE Presidency:
Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe, U.S. Army Chief of Staff |
Career AFTER Presidency:
writer, raised cattle |
Presidential Information
Began: January 20, 1953
(age 62) |
Ended: January 20, 1961
(age 70) |
# Months Served: 96
(2 full terms) |
# Vice Presidents: 1
(Richard M. Nixon) |
Political Affiliation:
Republican |
Salary:
$100,000/year |
Election Information
Election of 1952
[Click map for a larger version.]
|
[Click chart for a larger version.]
|
Election of 1956
[Click map for a larger version.]
|
[Click chart for a larger version.]
|
A Presidency in Review
Click on the banner above to go to the Dwight Eisenhower homepage at the University of Virginia's Miller Center. Click on the buttons below for in-depth information about Eisenhower's Presidency.
As Supreme Allied Commander during World War
II (1939-1945), Dwight D. Eisenhower led the massive D-Day invasion of
Nazi-occupied Europe in 1944. In 1952, leading Republicans convinced Eisenhower
to run for President. "Ike" won a convincing victory and went
on to serve two terms from 1953 to 1961. During his Presidency,
Eisenhower dealt with growing Cold War (1945-1991 tensions and
ended the Korean War (1950-1953). As the "Fabulous
Fifties" unfolded, Eisenhower strengthened Social Security, created the new
Interstate Highway System, and helped desegregate schools in the South
following the Supreme Court's 1954 ruling in Brown v. Board of Education. In his Farewell Address, Eisenhower spoke of
the dangers of the "Military Industrial Complex" and warned that a partnership between the military and "Big Business" would influence decisions made by the Federal Government. (The murder of JFK and defeat in Vietnam proved his point.) Eisenhower retired to his
farm in Pennsylvania and worked on his memoirs before passing away in 1969
after a long illness. Source: The History Channel
|
|
Historical Rankings
Click here to learn more about the C-SPAN Survey
Dwight Eisenhower Fun Facts
Eisenhower was often called by the nickname "Ike". No one knows for sure where or why this particular nickname developed other than that it sounds like the first syllable of "Eisenhower". Other suggestions state that "Ike" was an Eisenhower family nickname. Dwight's older brother, Edgar, was nicknamed "Ike" and, in turn, he became "Big Ike" while Dwight was "Little Ike". In fact, all six brothers were, at one time or another, called "Ike".
As a young teenager, Eisenhower injured his leg, and the infection became so severe that doctors considered amputation. He was ultimately forced to repeat his freshman year of high school, but his leg healed completely.
Rumor had it that Eisenhower had the Ace of Spades tattooed on his hindquarters.
Eisenhower, born in 1890, was the last President born in the 19th Century.
Eisenhower was a skilled chef and famous for his vegetable soup, steaks, and cornmeal pancakes. He developed a recipe for vegetable soup that is 894 words long.
Eisenhower was the first President licensed to fly an airplane. He earned his license in 1939.
In 1957, Eisenhower sent Federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas to ensure the integration of Central High School.
Eisenhower was the only President to serve in both World Wars. During World War II, Eisenhower was elevated to the rank of 5-star General and Supreme Commander of the Allies. He is one of only five men to ever hold a 5-star rank. As Commander of the Allies, Eisenhower was the most powerful military man in the world, and oversaw the D-Day invasion in 1944. (Ironically, as Jehovah's Witnesses, his parents had been strict pacifists.)
Eisenhower went to West Point (U.S. Army) because he was too old to join the Naval Academy at Annapolis. While there, he played football but failed to make the baseball team, something he later said was one of the greatest disappointments of his life. As a football player, he broke his leg in a game (the same leg he had injured his freshman year of high school) and it never fully healed. The player he was tackling during the injury was future Hall of Famer and Olympic gold medalist Jim Thorpe.
Eisenhower was the first President of an Anerica with 50 states, achieving that distinction when Hawaii became a state in 1959.
Eisenhower is the only 20th Century President who was bald. (Hey now...)
Eisenhower loved golf. He played more than 100 rounds of golf each year, was a member of Augusta National, and he even had a putting green installed on the White House lawn.
Eisenhower suffered six heart attacks during his life. His sixth came in 1965, and his health deteriorated in 1968. He spent nine months in Walter Reed Army Hospital until his death on March 28, 1969. He ordered the doctors and nurses attending him to lower the shades and pull him up to a sitting position in bed. Then, holding Mamie's hand, Eisenhower looked at his son, John, and grandson, David, and softly issued his final order, "I want to go; God take me." With these words, he died.
Presidential Portraits
If you like the fourth Dwighthard, you should check out the rest... [Click picture for a larger version.]
|
Not everyone can wear a kilt. Eisenhower proved this... [Click picture for a larger version.]
Good. Lord. [Click picture for a larger version.]
|
Presidential Signature
Previous President
[Click picture to visit the previous President.]
|
Next President
[Click picture to visit the next President.]
|