President Eisenhower Introduction
The famous World War II general Dwight David Eisenhower (Ike), who led the Allies invasion of Europe on D-Day, would go on to become the 34th president of the United States of America. He ranks high on the best U.S. presidents list due to his many and varied accomplishments throughout his presidency. It was Eisenhower who was responsible for ending the Korean War where he was able to bring about an armistice between North and South Korea. The short biography below gives facts about what this great Republican president accomplished during his terms in office, what his early life was like as one of seven kids, and why his life took a tragic turn in 1921.Click here for a great selection of Amazon.com books about President Eisenhower.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower Quick Facts
- He was born on October 14, 1890.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower's birthplace was Denison, Texas.
- He graduated from West Point Military Academy in 1915.
- He was married to first lady Marie "Mamie" Geneva Doud.
- He was elected to two terms and served as President from January 20, 1953 - January 20, 1961.
- He died of congestive heart failure on March 28, 1969.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower Interesting Facts
- When Eisenhower was born his family lived in a small, modest house in Texas which has become a historical site and attraction.
- He came from a working class family where his father, David, cleaned train engines until he began work at his brothers creamery when Dwight was a year and a half old.
- When Eisenhower was just six years old, one of his younger brothers died of Diphtheria, a serious respiratory infection.
- Eisenhower's first job after graduating high school was working for his uncle at the same creamery as his father in addition to working part-time as a fireman.
- At just three years old, Eisenhower's firstborn son, Doud Dwight "Icky" Eisenhower, died of Scarlett Fever in 1921.
- Commissioned in 1977, the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D Eisenhower is named after the former president.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower U.S. Presidency Facts
- During his presidency, Alaska and Hawaii entered the Union becoming the 49th and 50th U.S. States.
- Eisenhower's famous quote during his second inaugural address, "No people can live to itself alone. The unity of all who dwell in freedom is their only sure defense" struck a chord with many Americans.
- In 1954, Eisenhower was a major catalyst in America's first formal interstate highway system. He convinced congress to enact the Federal-Aid Highway Act and thanks to him there are now 46,876 miles of highway throughout the country.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Bill of 1957 which enforced voting rights for African Americans but also eventually led to the successful integration of public schools.
- When armed troops blocked African Americans from attending school in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957, he sent 1,000 Federal troops to restore order and enforce integration.
- The Eisenhower Doctrine of 1957 sought economic and military aid to calm tensions in the Middle East and to deter communist nations from interfering in the region.
- During a period of cold war related crises from Korea to Berlin and beyond, he managed to keep the U.S. out of war and at peace during his entire two-term presidency.