Dwight D. Eisenhower:  A Man of Military and Political Might

James Van Wyk

Intro to Historical Inquiry

Professor Anderson

4 May 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Background Information

Dwight D. Eisenhower, the name is familiar to nearly every American as well as many other people around the world.  Whether through his military leadership or his role as President of the United States, his name will be remembered in history for time to come.  The story of Eisenhower is one of heroism and resolve.  Eisenhower was called to serve his country in two very different roles and he responded to both by doing the absolute best that he could.

            The Story of Eisenhower begins on October 14 1890 in Denison Texas.  Born into a family of farmers the Eisenhower family soon moved to Abilene, Kansas where Eisenhower resided until the age of 21 when he entered the military academy at West Point.  Within 4 years Eisenhower had graduated in the middle of his class and was commissioned as a second Lieutenant.  He was assigned to a base in Texas where he would meet his wife, Marie Geneva Doud, who he said he fell in love with at first sight.  The two were soon married and Eisenhower was assigned to a new base where his primary responsibility was coaching the football team.  The death of their first child weighed heavily on both their souls as Eisenhower continued to devote himself to his work.  The outbreak of World War I gave Eisenhower an opportunity to put his skills to use, or so he thought.  Much to Eisenhower’s disappointment he was assigned as a training officer for tank squadron warfare.  This was a major blow to Eisenhower because he desired to see combat and because he was stuck teaching a doctrine that he did not believe in.  Following World War I Eisenhower believed that he would be stuck at his current rank for the rest of his career, but he had no ill feelings about it.  In fact when his son asked if he regretted his career he responded that he wouldn’t have any other career.  During the time between World War I and World War II Eisenhower become a student of Military science attending the war college and working on new tank doctrines.  Eisenhower caught the attention of many prominent military men including Macarthur who called him the best officer in the US Army. 

When World War II broke out in 1939 Eisenhower again saw the chance for himself to put into practice all he had learned. In 1941 following the attack on Hawaii Eisenhower was summoned to Washington to the war-planning department where his ideas formed the strategy for fighting World War II.  John C. Marshal, the chief of staff of the army placed Eisenhower in command over all allied expeditionary forces in Great Britain, and due to a compromise Eisenhower was placed as supreme commander over all American and British troops.  Eisenhower’s greatest quality was displayed during this time with the disagreements between Montgomery and Bradley.  These two generals had differing views of the best approach to win the war and Eisenhower was forced to keep both from fighting each other.  Eisenhower’s greatest accomplishment was the D-Day invasion of Normandy.  Eisenhower though cautious in military actions was a brilliant strategist who knew how to accomplish his missions.  Even during his time as a soldier Eisenhower was practicing his career as politics.  As supreme allied commander he constantly dealt with American, British and Soviet diplomats with whom he always had to make compromises.  Following his time as the commander of the occupation army in Germany Eisenhower was placed as the chief of the Army, replacing Marshal.  After serving two years in this position Eisenhower left the army and served as president of Columbia University before being sent to Europe to serve as the first commander of the allied forces in Europe. 

Eisenhower returned to America to run for president in 1952, reluctantly as he claimed.  Eisenhower won a sweeping victory due to his success, as a general and the fact that most Americans believed the cost trust him.  Eisenhower’s biggest accomplishment as president was putting an end to the war in Korea, as he boasted later, no more ground or lives were lost in Korea.  Eisenhower also created the South East Asia Treaty Organization (SETO) in response to the French defeat in Vietnam. It was this turn of events that placed America in charge of South Vietnams defense.  However Eisenhower’s accomplishments were not just military.  The national interstate system that many people now drive on everyday was one of Eisenhower’s major projects as President.  Eisenhower also advocated the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway allowing easier access to the Atlantic Ocean.  Eisenhower was elected to a second term in 1956 again due to the trust of the American people.  During this term Eisenhower brought about one of the biggest changes in American history, despite his own feelings Eisenhower brought about the desegregation of America.  Eisenhower was also instrumental in cold war politic, possibly preventing a third World War. 

Eisenhower has become a legacy through his military and political career and shall always be remembered for what he accomplished for America.  His history has become a part of America’s history.  Dwight D. Eisenhower will live on in history as long as the world values its freedom fighters and great men.

Bibliography

 

Eisenhower, Dwight D. At Ease: Stories I Tell to Friends.  Garden City, New York: 

Doubleday 1967.

 

This is an autobiography written by Eisenhower.  Within this book Eisenhower talks about his family and his life growing up as well as his career as a soldier and a president.  Through hearing his story told from his own perspective provides insight into how he thinks about his life.  This book can be located in Ramaker Library.

 

“The Speeches of Dwight D. Eisenhower” Video recording Oakforest, IL: MPI home video 1988

 

This video shows several of Eisenhower’s speeches. This is useful in that it allows people to see how Eisenhower acted during these speeches and gives insight into his character and motivation behind these speeches.  This video may be located in the LRC at Northwestern.

 

“Convention Sound Recording” New York: Lyrichord Discs, 1956.

           

This sound recording of a political convention in 1956 includes a speech by Eisenhower.  By listening to this speech it enables a person to hear not only the speech but the reactions to it as well.  This may be located in the Northwestern LRC.

 

Ambrose, Stephen E.  “Dwight D. Eisenhower” in American National Biography, ed. John C. Garraty and Marc C. Carnes.  Vol. 7 New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.

 

This biographical dictionary provides information on the entire life of Eisenhower.  This article is long enough to provide enough information to provide a good starting point for further research.  This may be found in Ramaker Library.

 

Berlin, Robert H. “Eisenhower, Dwight David” Reference Guide to United States Military History: 1919-1945.  New York: Sachem Publishing Association INC., 1981.

 

This reference work examines mostly the military career of Eisenhower.  This work does provide some information about his early life as well as his presidency.  However the main focus of this work was his military career.  This work also does not go into much detail even about his military career, only the most basic facts.  This book can be located in the reference section of Ramaker library.

 

Ambrose, Stephen E. Eisenhower. New York: Simon and Schuster 1983.

 

This is a two-volume biography that delves deeply into the life of Eisenhower.  The first volume concentrates mostly on Eisenhower’s life grown up and on his military accomplishments.  This volume provides useful information on Eisenhower’s character and motivation.  The second volume begins with Eisenhower’s election and follows his political career through his two terms in office and after his presidency.  This volume closely examines his political decisions and their repercussions.  This book can be located in Ramaker Library.    

 

Burk, Robert F. Dwight D Eisenhower Hero and Politician.  Boston: Twayne Publishers: 1986.

 

This book explores Eisenhower’s life from the history of his parents to his military and political careers.  This book focuses mostly on his military and political accomplishments.  This book can be found in Ramaker Library.

 

McAuliffe, Mary S.  “Dwight D. Eisenhower (Book Review).”  American Historical Review.  Dec. ’87 Vol. 82 Issue 5 P1300.

 

This review of Burk’s Book applauds the beginnings but has some negative things to say about the remainder of the book.  Also of some concern is that the book used primarily secondary souerces.  This review can be found online on Ebscohost

 

Divine, Robert A.  Eisenhower and the Cold War.  New York: Oxford University Press 1981

 

This Book examines the events that occurred during the Eisenhower presidency with regards to the Cold War.  It seeks to examine how Eisenhower’s foreign policies succeeded and failed to bring about peace between the US and the USSR.  It provides interesting insight into Eisenhower’s motivation for his foreign policy.  This book can be found in Ramaker Library.

 

Griffith, Robert.  “Eisenhower and the Cold War (Book Review).”  Dec. ’81 Vol. 86 Issue 5 pps. 1172-1174.

           

This review speaks highly of the book in its attempt to evaluate Eisenhower’s effects on the cold war.  The book is praised for its examination of new evidence about Eisenhower during the cold war.  This article can be found online on Ebscohost.  

 

Coleman, David G.  “Eisenhower and the Berlin Problem, 1953-1954.”  Journal of Cold War Studies.  Winter 2000: Vol. 2 Issue 1 pps. 3-35.

 

This article examines the Berlin problem in 1953-1954 and the effects that the decisions made by Eisenhower had on the rest of the world throughout the 1960’s.  This article can be found online through Ebscohost.

 

Cuddy, Edward.  “Vietnam: Mr. Johnson’s War---or Mr. Eisenhower’s.”  Review of Politics.  Fall 2003, Vol. 65 Issue 4, pps. 351-375.

 

This article examines the causes leading up to the Vietnam War and where the responsibility falls.  This article examines how Eisenhower played a role in causing the Vietnam War just as Johnson did.  This article can be found online at Ebscohost.

 

Kinnard, Douglas.  “President Eisenhower and the Defense Budget.”  Journal of Politics.  Aug 1977, Vol. 39 issue 3, pps 596-624.

           

This Article examines how Eisenhower’s defense budget spending has influenced the military and defense ideas and how these ideas have continued to have effects on the nation today.  This article can be found online on Ebscohost.

 

Tal, David.  “Eisenhower’s Disarmament Dilemma: From Chance for Peace to Open Skies Proposal.”  Diplomacy and Statecraft.  January 2001 Vol. 12 Issue 2 pps.175-197.

 

This article examines the motivations and actions that Eisenhower took during the cold war in an attempt to propose peace between the Russians and the United States.  This article can be located online through Ebsohost.

 

“Dwight D Eisenhower.”  <www.http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/de34.html>  (2 May 2004).

           

This website is published by the US government and provides basic information about Eisenhower, focusing mainly on his presidency.  This article is very brief with only basic information, however it is accurate because of the source it comes from.  This is available online at the above address.

 

Ambrose, Stephen.  “Character above all: Dwight D. Eisenhower” < http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/essays/eisenhower.html> (2 May 2004). 

 

This is an excerpt from an essay written by Ambrose for a program on PBS.  This information should be considered reliable due to the website of its origin and the author of the essay.  This may be found online at the above address.

 

Reflection on research method

 

While researching Eisenhower I actually found myself enjoying the research.  I have always enjoyed military history and so to research someone who had a great impact on military history as well as political history is a welcome break from the usual research that takes place in history courses.

            Researching Eisenhower was relatively as there is an abundance of material available on the subject.  There are many biographies that have been written about Eisenhower due to his military and political fame.  In addition to these biographies, Eisenhower himself has published several works telling his life story from his own point of view.  There are also multiple journal and magazine articles about him ranging from his political decisions to his military actions and his role in history.  There also exist other sources, such as speeches, TV interviews and sound recordings of his speeches.  Overall this abundance of materials that are available makes this a very easy topic to research.

            The biggest problem with researching Eisenhower is also the amount of material that is available.  It takes a long time to sort through all the material available to find what one is looking for.  Because of Eisenhower’s illustrious career as both a military officer and a president any books on him, unless focusing on one specific career are very lengthy because the include everything.  The other difficulty in researching Eisenhower is the little material on his early life.  It seems that because of his later accomplishments in life his childhood has been glossed over, other then the books that Eisenhower himself wrote.

            Overall the process of researching Eisenhower was an enjoyable experience.  It was interesting to learn how he has become such an icon in American history and has become a legend in the military and the political scene of America.