This document provides a profile and overview of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. It discusses his background growing up poor in Texas and joining the military. Eisenhower had a long military career, rising to Supreme Commander of NATO and helping to liberate Europe in WWII. The document outlines his 1952 election as president as a Republican, defeating Adlai Stevenson. As president, Eisenhower supported the Brown v. Board of Education decision and civil rights acts, initiated the interstate highway system, and continued New Deal programs while opposing McCarthyism. His legacy includes the Eisenhower Doctrine on combating communism and rankings among top ten presidents.

1. Please turn to your neighbors and
answer the following questions:
• What do you feel the requirements should
be for a President?
– Think about age, experience, background….
• Should a President have served in the
military? Explain
• Compare and contrast the domestic
agendas of Truman and Eisenhower…be
specific

2. Dwight D. Eisenhower
―IKE‖

3. Profile
• Born 10/14/80 in Texas
• Family was poor, ended up joining the military and went
to West Point
• Married in 1916 to Mamie an extremely wealthy woman
from Iowa. She was a very popular first lady
• Wasn’t Baptized until in office
– Instrumental in adding ―under God‖ and ―In God We Trust‖
• Served in a variety of military capacities in WWI and
WWII, including Supreme Commander and Chief of Staff
• Was in the military for 35 years and was quoted during
the D-Day invasion as saying:

4. • ―You are about to embark upon the Great
Crusade, toward which we have striven these
many months. The eyes of the world are upon
you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving
people everywhere march with you…I have full
confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and
skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than
full victory‖
• He became a 5-star general and helped to
liberate Europe
• Served until 1948

5. The Road to the Presidency
• Appointed by Truman as Supreme Commander
of NATO in 1949 until 1952
• Courted by both parties, accepted the
Republican nomination with Nixon…
– the ―Draft Eisenhower‖ campaign of the Republicans
won out
• ―I LIKE IKE‖—defeated Adlai Stevenson in 1952
by a wide margin
• Promised to end Korea, maintain a corruption
free Presidency and stay strong against
Communism

6. His Presidency
• Supported the Brown v. Board of Education-1954
– Instituted Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960
– Helped to insure Civil Rights improvement
• The Eisenhower Interstate System-1956
– Dealt with evacuation if needed
– Every 5 miles, one needs to be strait
– Would benefit the military and encourage economic growth
• Continued major New Deal endeavors
– Created the Department of Health, Education and Welfare
– Social Security was continued and furthered
• McCarthyism ended during his time…although did not take a tough
stance (covered in Cold War section)
• The ―Little Rock Nine‖ incident in 1957- refusal to integrate
• Served a second term even though he had suffered a heart attack

7. His Legacy
• The Eisenhower Doctrine
– Basically, the United States has the right to
support any nation that is threatened by
communist aggression
– The ―Domino Theory‖-belief that communism
could topple other areas
– May 1, 1960—U-2 spy plane incident
• Seen as the ―do-nothing‖ President
• Ranks in the top 10 continually

8. Legacy Continued
• Probably hurt Nixon’s own run for the President..
– ―If you give me a week, I might think of one‖
• Response when asked what Nixon had done during his VP
• The country saw unprecedented wealth and prosperity
– Per capita increased…
• Several Supreme Court appointees including Earl
Warren and John Marshall
• Continued all major New Deal/Fair Deal programs…such
as:
– Social Security
– Department of Health and Welfare was created
• An absolute military hero
– West Point statue of Eisenhower..