Dwight D. Eisenhower: World War II veteran and U.S. president
Dwight D. Eisenhower: World War II veteran and U.S. president
An overview of Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Transcript
NARRATOR: Dwight D. Eisenhower—the 34th president of the United States—was a respected World War II military leader who had no political experience before taking office. In his two terms, however, he proved to be a popular president, guiding the nation through a time of growth and prosperity.
"Ike," as Eisenhower was called, was very active as a youth. When he was 14 he hurt his leg in a fall and became gravely ill. Doctors considered removing his leg, but Eisenhower said he would rather die. He made an older brother promise that he wouldn't let the doctors amputate. Eisenhower eventually began a slow recovery and continued to play sports in high school.
Eisenhower also had a strong interest in military history. He entered the military academy at West Point when he was 20.
After the United States entered World War II, Eisenhower rose rapidly through the army ranks. He led the Allied invasion of North Africa in 1942 and became the supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in 1943. On June 6, 1944—D-Day—he commanded the Allied invasion of western Europe at Normandy, France. This long-awaited and decisive attack ultimately led to the defeat of Nazi Germany. By the end of the war, Eisenhower had become a five-star general—the highest U.S. military rank.
Eisenhower's leadership during World War II made him a national hero. In 1952 he was chosen as the Republican candidate for president, with Richard Nixon—then a California senator—as his running mate.
[Music]
Eisenhower's wartime reputation and down-to-earth image helped him to win the election easily.
Eisenhower's presidency was a time of peace and prosperity. During his first year in office, he negotiated a truce to end the Korean War, which had begun three years earlier. He also pushed for the establishment of the Interstate Highway System, the network of roads that connects all major U.S. cities.
Eisenhower was reelected in 1956, and his second term saw increased Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. One aspect of this conflict was the competition over space exploration, also known as the space race. In October 1957 the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial Earth satellite. Americans were shocked that the Soviets reached this goal first. Eisenhower responded by making space research a priority, and the United States launched its own satellite, Explorer 1, in January 1958. Six months later Congress established NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
During his last two years in office, Eisenhower embarked on a series of goodwill tours to promote peace, traveling to some 27 countries. He also invited Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to visit the United States as his guest in 1959. The two men agreed that disagreements between their countries should be resolved through peaceful talks rather than armed conflict.
In 1960 Eisenhower was set to attend a summit meeting with Khrushchev when news broke that an American spy plane had been shot down inside the Soviet Union. Talks between the two men broke down even though Eisenhower promised to stop U.S. flights over Soviet territory.
At the end of his second term, Eisenhower warned America about the rise and power of the military-industrial complex. He worried that it promoted policies that might not be in the country's best interests, such as the nuclear arms race.
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER: We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.
NARRATOR: Eisenhower died eight years after leaving office, on March 28, 1969. By his request, he was buried in the type of casket used for army soldiers.
"Ike," as Eisenhower was called, was very active as a youth. When he was 14 he hurt his leg in a fall and became gravely ill. Doctors considered removing his leg, but Eisenhower said he would rather die. He made an older brother promise that he wouldn't let the doctors amputate. Eisenhower eventually began a slow recovery and continued to play sports in high school.
Eisenhower also had a strong interest in military history. He entered the military academy at West Point when he was 20.
After the United States entered World War II, Eisenhower rose rapidly through the army ranks. He led the Allied invasion of North Africa in 1942 and became the supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in 1943. On June 6, 1944—D-Day—he commanded the Allied invasion of western Europe at Normandy, France. This long-awaited and decisive attack ultimately led to the defeat of Nazi Germany. By the end of the war, Eisenhower had become a five-star general—the highest U.S. military rank.
Eisenhower's leadership during World War II made him a national hero. In 1952 he was chosen as the Republican candidate for president, with Richard Nixon—then a California senator—as his running mate.
[Music]
Eisenhower's wartime reputation and down-to-earth image helped him to win the election easily.
Eisenhower's presidency was a time of peace and prosperity. During his first year in office, he negotiated a truce to end the Korean War, which had begun three years earlier. He also pushed for the establishment of the Interstate Highway System, the network of roads that connects all major U.S. cities.
Eisenhower was reelected in 1956, and his second term saw increased Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. One aspect of this conflict was the competition over space exploration, also known as the space race. In October 1957 the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial Earth satellite. Americans were shocked that the Soviets reached this goal first. Eisenhower responded by making space research a priority, and the United States launched its own satellite, Explorer 1, in January 1958. Six months later Congress established NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
During his last two years in office, Eisenhower embarked on a series of goodwill tours to promote peace, traveling to some 27 countries. He also invited Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to visit the United States as his guest in 1959. The two men agreed that disagreements between their countries should be resolved through peaceful talks rather than armed conflict.
In 1960 Eisenhower was set to attend a summit meeting with Khrushchev when news broke that an American spy plane had been shot down inside the Soviet Union. Talks between the two men broke down even though Eisenhower promised to stop U.S. flights over Soviet territory.
At the end of his second term, Eisenhower warned America about the rise and power of the military-industrial complex. He worried that it promoted policies that might not be in the country's best interests, such as the nuclear arms race.
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER: We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.
NARRATOR: Eisenhower died eight years after leaving office, on March 28, 1969. By his request, he was buried in the type of casket used for army soldiers.