Dwight David Eisenhower

Born: 14 Oct, 1890, Denison, TX
Died: 28 Mar, 1969, Washington, DC

34th President of the United States
Common Ancestor:
Daniel Stauffer
8th Gr Grandfather
of Merle G Ladd		 6th Gr Grandfather
of Dwight D Eisenhower
 
Adelheid Stauffer Christian Stover
Benjamin Hershey Jacob Stover
Christian Hershey Abraham Stover
Rebecca Hershey Daniel Stover
Samuel Eby Daniel Stover
John B Eby Simon P Stover
Christian D Eby Ida E Stover
Morrison V Eby Dwight D Eisenhower
Edith Emma Eby  
Merle G Ladd  
 
Relationship to Merle G Ladd:
7th Cousin, 2 Times Removed
Bringing to the Presidency his prestige as commanding general of the victorious forces in Europe during World War II, Dwight D. Eisenhower obtained a truce in Korea and worked incessantly during his two terms to ease the tensions of the Cold War. He pursued the moderate policies of "Modern Republicanism," pointing out as he left office, "America is today the strongest, most influential, and most productive nation in the world."

He excelled in sports in high school, and received an appointment to West Point. Stationed in Texas as a second lieutenant, he met Mamie Geneva Doud, whom he married in 1916.

In his early Army career, he excelled in staff assignments, serving under Generals John J. Pershing, Douglas MacArthur, and Walter Krueger. After Pearl Harbor, General George C. Marshall called him to Washington for a war plans assignment. He commanded the Allied Forces landing in North Africa in November 1942; on D-Day, 1944, he was Supreme Commander of the troops invading France.

After the war, he became President of Columbia University, then took leave to assume supreme command over the new NATO forces being assembled in 1951. Republican emissaries to his headquarters near Paris persuaded him to run for President in 1952.

"I like Ike" was an irresistible slogan; Eisenhower won a sweeping victory.

In 1953, the signing of a truce brought an armed peace along the border of South Korea.

Meanwhile, both Russia and the United States had developed hydrogen bombs. With the threat of such destructive force hanging over the world, Eisenhower, with the leaders of the British, French, and Russian governments, met at Geneva in July 1955.

The President proposed that the United States and Russia exchange blueprints of each other's military establishments and "provide within our countries facilities for aerial photography to the other country." The Russians greeted the proposal with silence, but were so cordial throughout the meetings that tensions relaxed.

Before he left office in January 1961, for his farm in Gettysburg, he urged the necessity of maintaining an adequate military strength, but cautioned that vast, long-continued military expenditures could breed potential dangers to our way of life. He concluded with a prayer for peace "in the goodness of time." Both themes remained timely and urgent when he died, after a long illness, on March 28, 1969.