In today’s highly charged political environment, it’s been tough for our government leaders to get much done. Although critics of Dwight D. Eisenhower once referred to him as the “do-nothing president”, his two terms in office stand in stark contrast to today’s politics and after visiting the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene, Doug and I agree that We Like Ike!
His Incredible Contributions To WWII
Eisenhower graduated from West Point in 1919 and continued to develop a wide range of skills that became an impressive resume. Within 3 months of Japan, Germany, and Italy declaring war on the US, Eisenhower, summoned by The War Department, was thrust into war planning on both fronts. He rose up the ranks quickly after planning several successful offenses as the US Army Chief of Staff under George C. Marshall.
Made a full general in 1943, he was known as an incredible military diplomat and strategist and was soon appointed the supreme commander of the Allied Forces during WWII, planning and leading the world’s largest and most complicated military invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe that began on D-Day. This liberation of France turned the tide on the World War II.
When concentration camps were discovered, Eisenhower encouraged members of Congress and the press to come to Europe to see the camps for themselves noting “I felt that the evidence should…leave no room for cynical doubt.”
Eisenhower was against the use of the atomic bomb in Japan, but Truman decided its use would hasten the end of the war with Japan.
Having risen from lieutenant colonel to supreme commander of the victorious forces in Europe in only 5 years, Ike returned home to a hero’s welcome in 1945.
His Devotion To Peace During His Presidency
Acknowledging his immense popularity, then President Truman privately asked Eisenhower to run on the 1948 Democratic ticket – with Truman stepping back to act as his vice president, but Eisenhower refused.
Truman won his second presidential term without Eisenhower and in 1950, Truman asked Eisenhower to take command of NATO forces.
In 1952, Eisenhower was still extremely popular and won the Republican nomination for President of the United States. His campaign slogan became “I Like Ike”. He won the election and then served two terms in the White House from 1953-1961.
After 40 years of military service, Eisenhower devoted his presidency to peace. That, alone, is reason enough to like Ike!
He was a moderate Republican who continued to strengthen several Democratic New Deal programs. He strengthened social security, increased the minimum wage, promoted low-incoming housing, created the Department of Health and made the Department of Education a cabinet position. He stimulated the economy by supporting the construction of the Interstate Highway System, the single largest public works program in US history, which would construct 41,000 miles of road across the country.
Some of his international policies led critics to dub him “the do-nothing president”, but historians today often praise him for not taking action. He did not lead the country into war, he negotiated an armistice in the Korean War only six months after taking office and for the rest of his presidency peace prevailed even when Cold War tensions ran high. He believed in the power of public opinion and supported private groups like Radio Free Europe that started broadcasting to Communist countries in Eastern Europe in 1949.
His views on other topics are reflected in a few of his quotes:
“I believe the only way to protect my own rights is to protect the rights of others.”
“A foundation of our American way of life is our national respect for law.”
“I have no hope for the world except through education.”
“The only way to win the next world war is to prevent it.”
“I believe the only way to protect my own rights
Dwight D. Eisenhower
is to protect the rights of others.”
His Interest In The Arts
In the last 20 years of his life, Eisenhower completed more than 260 paintings, giving many to friends and family. Paint-by-numbers became a 1950s fad and even the White House got involved. Appointment Secretary, Thomas Edwin Stephens, secretly handed out kits to Cabinet members, government leaders, and visitors. He then collected them and created a gallery in his office and around the White House West Wing . Aware of Ike’s fondness for painting, this surprise exhibit was a gift for the “painter President”. Several of these paintings are on display at the Presidential Library. Loved it so much that I looked online and yes, you can still buy paint-by-number kits!
Wouldn’t it be refreshing if there were a Presidential candidate today with Ike’s level of commitment to serving the country? A great diplomat who cared deeply and collaborated on education, justice, peace, upholding laws, and working to make the US a better place for everyone to live? Someone who understood the delicate balance between being free to choose the way we live our lives while ensuring that what we choose doesn’t infringe on someone else’s right to do the same? Let’s hope new leaders, maybe some who also like Ike, step forth to achieve such lofty goal.
