Eisenhower autobiography

I didn't like history and it bored me to hear these things. How I wish I'd listened more closely. Last year, on our cross country trip, my husband and I stopped in Abilene, Kansas at Eisenhower's boyhood home, Presidential library, museum and burial site. As we left I stopped in the gift shop, as I always do, to purchase a book or two about the subject and this was one I chose.

The picture on the front was the Eisenhower of my memory--the old man, past all the years of military service and the uniforms and the jacket bearing his name. The book did not disappoint. I had already read the biography chosen on the same trip but reading these scattered memories written by the man himself were so much more lively.

It is easy to read and one can almost hear his voice speaking the words. Having walked through his home the early days in Abilene were particularly appealing. The life of a career military man was less familiar to me but as he described his career from young Point graduate through various stints as staff officer to many other famous names, in particular, MacArthur, the evolution of the man and his experiences was fascinating.

Last year I'd been to General Pershing's home and bought his biography. Now, in the twilight of his career, young Eisenhower encounters him and describes the old Cavalry officer from a totally different slant. As a result there is much to tell about those early years and they are as interesting, because of the lack of notoriety if nothing else, as the years of action and danger of a World War.

Stories about the young George Patton and Mark Clark among others is more revealing about the men they were than the heroes and icons they became. Once the War ended, Eisenhower continued for awhile in the military--serving as Army Chief of Staff in the new Pentagon eisenhower autobiography. My Dad was an electrician on that construction job and his descriptions of the building and its many corridors and security features made Ike's recounting of his getting lost all that more amusing.

He finishes his stories with his stint as president of Columbia University and his new hobby of oil painting. I found this section a bit anticlimactic although interesting. Finally, he relates his efforts in getting NATO off the ground. Until I read this section I'm not sure I realized when studying about the organization in I realized how recently the pact had been formed.

Disappointingly, although written intwo years before his death and six years after leaving the Presidency, he tells no stories about that period of his life. From the '40's onward members of both parties had tried to convince him to run for President as many were also encouraging MacArthur but he steadfastly refused to even consider such a thing.

He implies that through his efforts in getting NATO established that he realized there was a eisenhower autobiography need for change in government and that the people seemed to be wanting that change. He, therefore, entertained the possibility of running on the Republican ticket and that is where he ends his stories--though there certainly was more he could have told.

All in all, if you are my vintage, I think you'd enjoy hearing your childhood memories in more detail.

Eisenhower autobiography: We learn about his life

If you are a younger student of history this is a good place to start this period--it is far from a complete telling but it is fascinating reading and begs the reader to go to other sources to fill in the blanks. President Eisenhower tells about various times in his life from early childhood to just before becoming a candidate for President. I found the stories to be informative,instructive and entertaining.

Descending Angel. A great read, from the 34th President of the United States of America. His book Crusade in Europe I want to get round to read it sometime may be a better look into his time in world war 2 but this covered a lot and makes you realize how much was going on in the world at this time and how much Eisenhower achieved even before becoming president.

Bill Tress. This book was enjoyable! It is titled "stories Ike tells his friends", and that is the way it reads. It is also a biographical sketch that corrects a number of myths like the movie version of his relationship with the General Patton. One of his stories dealt with his eisenhower autobiography as President of Columbia University, he and his wife enjoyed this experience and he had a number of significant accomplishments in this role and the University trustees were sorry to see him go, yet, a call from President Truman ordered Ike to Europe to work on the military eisenhower autobiography that became NATO.

Ike was instrumental in developing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATOhe did this through the use of his persuasive talents with European Statesmen and our Congress; at that time he envisioned a future European Union that in the fifties was very far sighted. His eye to the future also was instrumental in the development of our current interstate highway system; this modern highway system was the result of his Pentagon work on the need for the east west mobility of our military in times of crisis.

Ike accomplished much in his many careers and the book speaks in his modest words about some of his achievements. If you want to be an Eisenhower scholar than this book needs to be on your reading list. Michael Flickinger. I like Ike. Eisenhower is a series of antidotes from the former President of the United States. He tells stories about how he met his wife, Mamie and other memories from his time at West Point.

He also talks about the different assignments and Army bases where he was assigned during his career up to his service during WWII. I enjoyed reading his take on historic happenings and also his person reflections on the events. Anyone with an interest in history will enjoy reading this book. I just turned my head and went to my tent where my roommate, P.

Hodgson, was sitting. I looked at him and said, 'P. As a matter of fact, they'll have to run over and knock me out of the company street before I'll make any attempt again. I've just done something that was stupid and unforgivable. I managed to make a man ashamed of the work he did to earn a living. I often think today of what an impact could be made if children believed they were contributing to a family's essential survival and happiness.

In the transformation from a rural to an urban society, children are - though they might not agree - robbed of the opportunity to do genuinely responsible work. But it took me some years to learn that pounding from an opponent is not to be dreaded as much as constantly living in fear of another. One of my associates stressed the positions and notable careers of the man's forebears.

Among them, he said, were Dutch patroons and royal governors in colonial times, generals in all our wars, governors, senators, famous scholars and lawyers and bankers. His intention was not to impress me; it was to prepare me for any names which might e dropped during the visit. I listened attentively to his genealogical survey and thought: Heaven help the poor man carry so heavy a burden.

This reaction, through silent, was unkind; I feared that a man so endowed eisenhower autobiography family distinction would turn out to be a pompous bore. He was not. Instead, his familiarity with his own and the nation's history gave me a fresh perspective on a crisis or two that was on my desk that afternoon. At various times, friendly people have shown me or presented me with swords stamped Eisenhowerwhich they thought my relatives had lost.

Now and then I have explained that the designation was only the mark of a man's trade, not his name. But I do not always trouble the happy owners by pointing this out. Richardson reports that the first land record in his [Eisenhower's great-great-great grandfather Hans Nicholas Eisenhauer] name is dated January 20, And for the collector of coincidences, she points out that this was exactly two hundred years to the day before I was inaugurated President.

Protected by ridges in all directions, a snug place in winter, the fields running east and west got the full benefit of summer sun. Admired as a general, he was a champion of peace.

Eisenhower autobiography: Provides a uniquely intimate account of

In Korea and Vietnam, in Quemoy and Berlin, his eisenhower autobiographies urged him to wage nuclear war. Time and again he considered the idea and rejected it. And it was Eisenhower who appointed the liberal justices Earl Warren and William Brennan and who then called in the military to enforce desegregation in the schools. Upon assuming the presidency inDwight Eisenhower set about to make good on his campaign promise to end the Korean War.

Yet while Eisenhower was quickly viewed by many as a doddering lightweight, behind the bland smile and simple speech was a master tactician. To end the hostilities, Eisenhower would take a colossal risk by bluffing that he might use nuclear weapons against the communist Chinese, while at the same time restraining his generals and advisors who favored the strikes.

In the weeks leading up to D-Day, Dwight D. Eisenhower seethed with nervous energy. He had not expected his military career to bring him to this moment. The son of pacifists, Ike graduated from high school more likely to teach history than to make it. Casting new light on this profound evolution, Eisenhower chronicles the unlikely, dramatic rise of the supreme Allied commander.

By showing the decisive impact of Soviet strength not only on the outcome of the war but on the strategic thinking of the Western leaders, this book profoundly recast our perceptions of World War II and its consequences. Added to Cart. Add all 3 to Cart. Choose items to buy together. Customers who viewed this item also viewed. Page 1 of 1 Start over Page 1 of 1.

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Eisenhower autobiography: Eisenhower spent four years

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Informative without being boring. Although I was less than ten when Eisenhower was President I knew some of his military service in WW2 and he was the first President I recognized as a youngster. July 24, at am. I agree with J. Also, to J. Shaw is a good look at the transition from Eisenhower to Kennedy and their relationship. Thanks and enjoy your reading.

July 31, at am. In the end I found Nixon interesting, but exceptionally frustrating. Agreed on reading about Watergate. His hardships as a youth and hard work through his early life to be an upright, moral, and honest person are commendable and were impactful on his early life, but then to see how his presidency warped his moral compass, and people around him who lacked moral compasses influenced him in the weakening of his own, is truly a tragic tale.

For me, that was a large part of why reading about his fall was so draining. Peter said:. September 16, at am. Keith said:. June 22, at am. I wonder what your thoughts are…. June 22, at pm. Patrick said:. June 30, at pm. It was colorful and insightful — I appreciate your recommendation. Eddie Dunn said:. August 17, at pm. Definitely give yourself plenty of time for your visit in Abilene.

Treat yourself to a real old-fashioned chicken dinner at the Brookeville Hotel on the eisenhower autobiography side of I in Abilene. December 18, at pm. Steve, I finally veered off the reservation. Was reading your reviews of Ike, while literally sitting in front of the presidential biographies section at HPB, and almost bought the one volume Ambrose book, and then I saw your review where it said his life before World War II is only about 50 pages!

December 19, at am. Kari said:. January 16, at pm. Are any of these particularly better than the other in discussing this? Greg said:. December 4, at pm. Thank you for the great research and posts. I have had a lot of trouble finding a good, comprehensive Eisenhower biography because unlike many presidents, Eisenhower experienced such a vastly different pre-presidency life that entire books could be and have been!

It seems many of his biographies either focus on his military career or the presidency, as you mentioned. And, while JES also covers from beginning to end, I do believe Ambrose is the most thorough at covering the presidency in one volume more than JES, which seems to rush through the presidency especially the 2nd term. John said:.