Week 8: Dwight D. Eisenhower

Monday, July 25, 2011

Full name: Born David Dwight Eisenhower, he eventually switched the order of his name to Dwight David Eisenhower. Eisenhower was also known by his popular nickname “Ike.”

Born: October 14, 1890

Died: March 28, 1969

Importance: Served as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II. Eisenhower went on to become the 34^th president of the United States.

Pictures:

Video - Eisenhower's D-Day Speech

Key Facts

Eisenhower served two terms as president from 1953 to 1961.

He is credited with the creation of the Interstate Highway System, which forever changed transportation in the U.S.

Once elected president, Eisenhower was directly responsible for ending the Korean War.

Quotes from Dwight D. Eisenhower

"Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him."

"I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its stupidity."

"No people on earth can be held, as a people, to be an enemy, for all humanity shares the common hunger for peace and fellowship and justice."

"In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless but planning is indispensable."

Excerpt from Andy Andrews

Excerpt #1 from The Final Summit:

Winston suddenly took Erickson by the arm and thrust it into the air. “My friends, I give you Eric Erickson, the man who was single-handedly responsible for defeating the Nazi war machine in World War II.”

David didn’t know what to say or do, but as Erickson freed himself from Winston’s grip, there was a small bit of enthusiastic applause up and to his right. Turning to determine its source, the group at the table saw two men standing and clapping. It was Dwight Eisenhower and the British general Bernard Montgomery—Monty—who had risen from their seats, bestowing a personal standing ovation upon their new arrival. While they looked on, Eisenhower, supreme commander of the Allied forces and later president of the United States, gave a thumbs-up to Erickson, who grinned sheepishly and waved back.

When everyone had returned to their seats, Eric glanced toward the two generals, commenting to Churchill, “I never met them either.” Winston laughed as if it was the wittiest line he’d ever heard.

“Someone,” David declared, “simply must tell us the story here. Fill in the blanks for me.” Joan and Lincoln expressed their interest, and when Erickson appeared hesitant to talk about himself, Winston gladly took the floor.

“Let me begin,” the prime minister said, “by bringing to light a fact that seems to have been swept under history’s rug. The public at large, to this very day, has been blissfully unaware of the hair’s breadth by which the Allies won World War II. We were so close to losing—being completely overrun by the Nazis—that it shakes me to the core . . . even at this moment.”

David glanced up at Eisenhower and Montgomery, who were solemnly nodding their heads in agreement, and blurted out, “We almost lost? How have I never heard about this?”

Lincoln smiled and looked to Churchill. He knew the answer, and Winston confirmed it before continuing. “How did you not know?” he asked. “Because that fact is not discussed in your history books, my boy. And as you well know, history is written by the winners.”

The Final Summit