David Dwight Eisenhower, later Dwight D. Eisenhower, a West Point graduate, was better known as "Ike." Ike became the thirty-fourth President in 1953 after defeating Adlai Stevenson in the general election the previous November, and again in 1956.

He was recruited more for his popularity than for his political accomplishments, though he was head of NATO at the time. Eisenhower brought an air of self-righteousness to both the White House and to America in general. Though he had vision also, his pretension tends to dominate his legacy more than does that vision.

With Korea raging, the Cold War throttling up, and unresolved domestic issues, America sought the services of one of its heroes. "I like Ike" buttons became political fashion statements. He chose a young representative from California, Richard Nixon, to be his running mate. Nixon was an outspoken critic of communism, and of those who would dare associate with those who may support communism.

The McCarthy hearings went into full-swing under Ike's reign. Ike did nothing to dissuade the Congressional barrage on America's artists and intellects. To the contrary, he signed into law the 1954 amendment to the Pledge of Allegiance, adding the words "under God" to show the "godless commies" that America had God on its side. Both Congress and he were certain to point out, though, that the words were not added to establish Christianity as the national religion, which means that it really was or there would be no need to so blatantly point it out.

The Korean conflict ended under Ike. The settlement was neither victory nor defeat. It would be the first major conflict in American history in which America was not the victor. It left a major foothold for communist China, and the world lived tenuously with the hope that China and the USSR would continue being enemies.

Ike launched America's space program, and initiated the national freeway systems. His strong persona held Soviet leadership at bay, though the arms race was on. Ike supported the USSC decision in 'Brown vs. Board of Education,' directed D.C. to become an example of integration, and placed the Arkansas National Guard under federal control to enforce it in Little Rock.

President Eisenhower's legacy as the leader who guided America through tumultuous times, or one who contributed to the tumultuous times, are positions worthy of debate. Unquestionably, America has benefited tremendously from its military technological advance, its development of space technology, and from the Interstate freeway system.

Ike is rather like a grandfather whose scoldings and spankings seem to outweigh memories of the fine gifts he gave us.

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You can learn more about David Dwight Eisenhower at:

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D wight_D._Eisenhower
The White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/hist ory/presidents/de34.html
POTUS: http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/d deisenhower.html

Visit the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library at the University of Texas: http://www.eisenhower.utexas.e du/

Learn more about this author, Tom Koecke.
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