Term Date: 1953-1961
Political Party: Republican
Vice President: Richard M. Nixon (1953-1961)
Born Place: Denison, Texas
Born Date: October 14, 1890
Died Place: Washington, D.C
Died Date: March 28, 1969
First Lady: Mary "Mamie" Geneva Doud
Children: 2
Parents: David Jacob Eisenhower, Ida Elizabeth Stover
Other Political Offices:
None
Occupation before elected:
Soldier
Brief History:
As a young man, he excelled in sports and received an appointment to West Point. As to his character he would blush if he slipped and swore in front of a lady. Eisenhower served under Generals John J. Pershing, Douglas MacArthur, and Walter Krueger and started out in the Tank Corps. After Pearl Harbor, General Marshall gave him a war plans assignment. He was in charge of the Allied Forces landing in North Africa in November 1942 which consisted of more than 156,000 men and over 6,000 ships plus thousands of airplanes and was called Operation Overlord. On D-Day, 1944, he was Supreme Commander of the troops invading France and was is the only man ever to command successfully a multinational force of ground, sea, and air forces. His overall objective was the defeat of Nazi Germany, which happened on May 8, 1945. As president he defeated his opponent, Adlai E. Stevenson by piling up a margin of 442 votes to 89 in the Electoral College.
As desegregation of schools began, he sent troops into Little Rock, Arkansas, to keep the orders of a Federal court. Eisenhower is also known for Interstate Highway Act, and the Submerged Lands Act of 1953. On his campaign promise of 1953 Eisenhower ended the Korean War by getting a cease fire in which Korea was divided at the 38th parallel. He served 2 terms of office and spent many hours on this farm in Gettysburg that also served as a place to conduct the duties of the president. His bid for a second term was shaken when he suffered a heart attack in September 1955 while vacationing in Colorado. Mamie Eisenhower was well liked by the public for her upbeat wardrobe, hairstyle and general attitude. Eisenhower returned to active list of regular Army with rank of General of the Army from December 1944. Maintained office at Gettysburg College and residence at his farm near Gettysburg, PA, January 1961-March 1969. Presidents Kennedy and Johnson considered Eisenhower an elder statesman, and often sought his advice on international affairs. After a serious heart attack in August 1965 he rarely participated in public affairs.