Dwight D. Eisenhower

34th President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953-196134th President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953-196134th President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953-196134th President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953-196134th President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953-196134th President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953-196134th President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953-1961

34th President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953-1961

34th President of the United States
(January 20, 1953 to January 20, 1961)

Full Name: David Dwight Eisenhower
Nickname: "Ike"

Born: October 14, 1890, in Denison, Texas
Died: March 28, 1969, in Washington, D.C.

Father: David Jacob Eisenhower (1863-1942)
Mother: Ida Elizabeth Stover Eisenhower (1862-1946)
Married: Mary "Mamie" Geneva Doud (1896-1979), on July 1, 1916
Children: Doud Dwight Eisenhower (1917-21); John Sheldon Doud Eisenhower (1923-2013)

Religion: Presbyterian
Education: Graduated from U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. (1915)
Occupation: Soldier
Political Party: Republican
Other Government Positions:

  • None

Presidential Salary: $100,000/year + $50,000 expense account

Presidential Election Results:

YearCandidatePopular VotesElectoral Votes
1952Dwight D. Eisenhower33,936,234442
(map)Adlai E. Stevenson27,314,99289

YearCandidatePopular VotesElectoral Votes
1956Dwight D. Eisenhower35,590,472457
(map)Adlai E. Stevenson26,022,75273
Walter B. Jones1

Vice President: Richard M. Nixon (1953-61)

Cabinet:

Secretary of State
John Foster Dulles (1953-59)
Christian A. Herter (1959-61)
Secretary of the Treasury
George M. Humphrey (1953-57)
Robert B. Anderson (1957-61)
Secretary of Defense
Charles E. Wilson (1953-57)
Neil H. McElroy (1957-59)
Thomas S. Gates, Jr. (1960-61)
Attorney General
Herbert Brownell, Jr. (1953-57)
William P. Rogers (1957-61)
Postmaster General
Arthur E. Summerfield (1953-61)
Secretary of the Interior
Douglas J. McKay (1953-56)
Frederick A. Seaton (1956-61)
Secretary of Agriculture
Ezra Taft Benson (1953-61)
Secretary of Commerce
Sinclair Weeks (1953-58)
Lewis Strauss (1958-59)
Frederick H. Mueller (1959-60)
Secretary of Labor
Martin P. Durkin (1953)
James P. Mitchell (1953-61)
Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare
Oveta Culp Hobby (1953-55)
Marion B. Folsom (1955-58)
Arthur S. Flemming (1958-61)

Supreme Court Justices:
Earl Warren, Chief (1953-1969)
John Marshall Harlan II (1955-1971)
William J. Brennan (1956-1990)
Charles Evans Whittaker (1957-1962)
Potter Stewart (1958-1981)

Notable Events:
Internet Biographies:
Dwight D. Eisenhower -- from The Presidents of the United States of America
Compiled by the White House.
Dwight Eisenhower -- from The American President
From the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, in addition to information on the Presidents themselves, they have first lady and cabinet member biographies, listings of presidential staff and advisers, and timelines detailing significant events in the lives of each administration.
Dwight D. Eisenhower -- from Encyclopaedia Britannica
Facts about Eisenhower, his military career, and his presidency.
Dwight D. Eisenhower -- from Character Above All
From a PBS broadcast by the same name, this essay excerpt by Stephen Abrose discusses some of the issues and events that molded Eisenhower.
Videos:
Other Internet Resources:
The Best Biographies of Dwight Eisenhower
In 2012, Stephen Floyd started his search for the best biography of each president. He usually has reviews of multiple biographies for each president.
The Brilliant Prudence of Dwight Eisenhower
An examination of Eisenhower's leadership style by Evan Thomas.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial
Scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2020, this 4-acre site in Washington, D.C. will commemmorate Eisenhower's accomplishments .
Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home
Information on the Abilene, Kansas library, along with biographical sketches of Eisenhower and his wife.
Eisenhower National Historic Site
Eisenhower's retreat and retirement home. Tourist information, history, a timeline of Eisenhower's life, and quotations from Eisenhower. Maintained by the National Park Service.
Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site
Located in Denison, TX, this home where Eisenhower was born is furnished with antiques illustrating the working class life of the Eisenhowers.
Health and Medical History of Dwight Eisenhower
Medical background of each president with references. Compiled by John Sotos, MD.
Points of Interest:
Additional Facts:
  • Eisenhower's grandson David is the namesake of Camp David, the country retreat of the U.S. president.
  • Eisenhower was the only president to serve in World War I and World War II.
  • During Eisenhower's long and illustrious military career he never saw active combat.
  • The squirrels on the White House grounds were captured and relocated so they would not ruin Eisenhower's putting green.
  • Eisenhower painted more than 200 paintings.
  • Eisenhower was the first president to ride in a helicopter. He started the tradition of the president taking helicopters from the White House lawn.
  • During his presidency, Eisenhower spent almost two months in the hospital after a heart attack.
  • In 1955, Eisenhower was the first president to give a televised news conference.
  • Eisenhower is the only president to win an Emmy Award.
Quotes:

“Pessimism never won any battle.”

“Neither a wise man or a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.”

“There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, love of freedom, intelligence and energy of her citizens cannot cure.”

“The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity.”

“A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.”

“Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it.”

“You don’t lead by hitting people over the head – that’s assault, not leadership.”

“Plans are nothing; planning is everything.”

“What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight – it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”

“Any man who wants to be president is either an egomaniac or crazy.”

“There are a number of things wrong with Washington. One of them is that everyone is too far from home.”

Previous President: Harry S. Truman
Next President: John F. Kennedy