One of the reasons it’s cool to read history is because we get to read about the “great ones”.
Greatness stands the test of time.
The focus of today’s piece is on one of those “great ones”. A true, blue leader.
A General that led the Allies to victory.
A President that sought peace and brought prosperity to this great Nation.
A General-President.
It doesn’t always work out, but in this case it did.
Even if you’ve heard of the fellow, these are the standouts gathered from meditating on a 500 page tome of a bio.
I did it so you don’t have to ;)
Anyway, let’s roll up those sleeves and get on in there!
Ike ascended to command at age 52.
Dwight D. Eisenhower was a middle-of-the-pack West Point grad relegated to desk jockeying during WWI before working and studying under Generals Pershing, MacArthur, and Marshall.
For more than two decades, Ike (Eisenhower) studied strategy and theory and picked some of the sharpest military minds on the planet. He attended trainings, helped train US soldiers, completed necessary admin functions, and otherwise assisted the Generals before him.
Greatness takes time.
The fact that Ike didn’t get his “big break” until age 52 was a MASSIVE takeaway for me. It puts a check in the box of, it’s OK to take your time and age like a fine wine.
It wasn’t until 1943, at the ripe age of 52, that Ike was granted the opportunity to lead. To serve as THE Supreme Allied Commander during WWII.
He coordinated Allied offensives in Africa, Italy, France, and Belgium. In time, the Allies wore down Nazi defense and marched beyond the Westwall. The Allies, under General Eisenhower’s command, brought an end to the Nazi regime in Europe.
Ike would go down as one of the nation’s greatest generals while simultaneously becoming one of the biggest stars on the planet.
Ike was a General that hated war. He just hated the Nazis more.
Ike was raised by a pacifist, pious family in Abilene, KS and was quoted (during WWII) as saying:
What separates me from the pacifists is that I hate the Nazis more than I hate war.
During the War, Ike would regularly tour the front lines, talk to soldiers, look them in the eyes, and write letters to families of the fallen.
He came to know and understand the harsh realities of war. The impact on a man’s psyche as well as family.
The sentiment here reminded me of General Sherman from the Civil War. Sherman had opposed the war beyond the last minute, but then once involved, he became the most savage and effective of Generals that the Union had. With Eisenhower, his upbringing and demeanor were geared toward peace. But when peace was taken off the table and the Nazis played their hand, Ike went all on.
The great ones face up to evil.
The Allies were victorious. The Nazis were defeated. The price of freedom and peace was paid.
Thereafter, Ike sought peace.
He ascended to the Presidency in 1952, promising to bring a close to the Korean War, and made good on his promise in the first year.
These were the early Soviet, nuclear arms years. Fearful, tense years where there were plenty of opportunities for Eisenhower to act imperialistically in Suez, Vietnam, and Cuba.
While Ike’s leadership was by no means perfect, he did “keep America out”, reduce defense spending, balance the budget, and reign over some of the most prosperous, peaceful years in American history.
Ike believed firmly in NATO and the EU.
In addition to bringing an end to the Korean conflict, one of Eisenhower’s core drivers in running for President was his fear that the US would too quickly and drastically reduce their assistance to NATO and guidance in establishing the EU.
While defeating the Nazis, helping Western Europe re-establish itself (via the Marshall plan), and observing Soviet activity, Eisenhower realized how important it was that Europe be able to stand on its own and defend itself.
Free market economics. Mutually beneficial trade and relations. Mutual defense. They would all prove paramount to the success and future of Europe.
[Magnus note: it’s wild to read of how easily the EU and NATO could have been DOA (dead on arrival). How different Europe would be today …]
If the nations of Europe collaborated more amongst themselves, they would be far less likely to war as they had twice in the decades prior.
It was not a popular opinion amongst the Old Guard Republicans of the day. They felt the money and energies could be better used elsewhere. Not Ike.
The great ones stand up for what they believe in.
Even though he was more conservative of nature, he took counsel with both sides of the aisle, pulled on his own experience, and stood for what he believed in.
The EU and NATO prevailed.
Ike was the OG Beatles.
After WWII, Ike had an untouchable popularity amongst the people.
Politicians and wealthy influencers took note.
He was approached time and again about throwing his hat into politics, and was even asked by Truman to run on the Democratic ticket in 1948. Ike declined.
He declined all invitations to declare affiliation and downplayed the possibility of running. Still, many believed he was the only man fit to serve as President.
It took years of convincing by public opinion and those close to him.
The great ones act when it’s time to act.
Ike declared himself a Republican candidate for the 1952 election and with it he brought an end to the 20 year Democratic reign at the helm.
He would go on to win the 1952 and 1956 elections handily and leave office with a 58% approval rating.
Ike had an imperfectly fruitful time as the Leader of the Free World.
Ike led on the economy and foreign affairs while following on social matters.
Ike’s Presidency was imperfect because of:
- Civil Rights,
- Empowering the CIA, and
- An inability to curb the nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union.
While he initiated desegregation of the military and capital and appointed a pro Civil Rights Chief Justice (Earl Warren), he was slow to act otherwise for Civil Rights and would only do so when his hand had been forced (ie. Little Rock, AR in 1957).
The great ones, like us, are imperfect.
On the other hand Ike’s Presidency bore a lot of fruit:
- An established highway system,
- Relative stability in Western Europe,
- No more wars,
- A powerful American economy with record unemployment, and
- A balanced budget.
Eisenhower was the catalyst for an interstate system that connected the country in a way it never had been and had never been imagined prior to its inception in 1956.
Ike connected the country, sought peace, prioritized balancing the budget, and saw some of the most fruitful economic years this nation has ever seen.
Over the course of his Presidency, and counter to what many politicians of the time believed (including JFK), Eisenhower reduced Defense spending.
He stood by this belief until the last day and warned of the “military industrial complex” during his Farewell Address. To this day, it seems to foreshadow the devious policies and political motives of the decades to follow.
Ike did what he thought was right for the Nation and this was part of the reason people trusted and liked Ike.
People liked Ike because Ike liked life. People admired Ike, and worked for him, because he did great and good things for mankind. He was the general who truly hated war, but who hated the Nazis more. He was the President who made a peace and kept the peace and thus provided the conditions that made it possible for the American people to exercise their right to pursue happiness.
— Eisenhower: Soldier and President, Stephen E. Ambrose (p.576)
Ike connected the country, sought peace, invested in Americans’ futures, and greatly improved the standing of this once more meager nation.
When we look at Ike’s life and the legacy he left, we can’t help but admire his sense of duty and discipline, his ability to play the middle of the road, and his love of life and people.
I’d gone into this planning to write 1–2 pages but couldn’t help myself.
Ike’s a fascinating character. His life was one for the books.
One of those massive 500 page tomes 🙂
If it’s true that you get what you give, then there’s a reason the people liked Ike so much. There’s a reason his greatness stood the test of time.
I hope this wasn’t completely painful to read through and I hope you grabbed a “golden nugget” somewhere along the way.
Would love to hear your thoughts on this article or Ike’s presidency in the comments.
Thanks for reading through!
Magnus
