U.S. Presidents: Dwight Eisenhower

"Eisenhower gives the reader true insight into the most difficult part of a commander's life." -- New York Times

The focus of this revision is not how Eisenhower made policy, but how his decisions shaped American life in the 1950s and beyond. In this first post-revisionist study of the Eisenhower presidency, historian Chester Pach reaches beyond the issues the revisionists raised: Was Eisenhower in command of his own administration? Did he play a significant role in shaping foreign and domistic policy? Drawing on the wide range of works published within the past decade, Pach expands Elmo Richardson's 1979 study by nearly one third. In addition to new material on national security policy, Pach deepens the analysis of Eisenhower's leadership and managerial style and explores the significance of the decisions Eisenhower made on a whole range of critical issues, from civil rights to atomic testing. By emphasizing the fundamental failings of Eisenhower's presidency, Pach swims against the stream of recent scholarship. He concludes, for example, that Eisenhower's commitment to support South Vietnam in 1954, with its attendant responsibilities and consequences, was far more important¿and ultimately disastrous¿than his refusal to intervene with military force in support of the French in 1954. Eisenhower's unleashing of the CIA (in Iran, Guatemala, and elsewhere) also draws sharp criticism, as does his timid and ineffective handling of McCarthy.

These diaries cover the period from 1935 to 2 years before Eisenhower's death in 1969.

In this classic portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower the soldier, bestselling historian Stephen E. Ambrose examines the Allied commander's leadership during World War II. nbsp; Ambrose brings Eisenhower's experience of the Second World War to life, showing in vivid detail how the general's skill as a diplomat and a military strategist contributed to Allied successes in North Africa and in Europe, and established him as one of the greatest military leaders in the world. Ambrose, then the Associate Editor of the General's official papers, analyzes Eisenhower's difficult military decisions and his often complicated relationships with powerful personalities like Churchill, de Gaulle, Roosevelt, and Patton. This is the definitive account of Eisenhower's evolution as a military leader--from its dramatic beginnings through his time at the top post of Allied command.

"This collection is the raw material of history refined by an able historian. Here are seventy- five significant letters sent by Eisenhower to his chief supporter and mentor, General of the Army George C. Marshall, from the time of Torch (the invasion of North Africa) to victory in Europe... Without doubt, Eisenhower's reputation as a man and a leader will be enhanced by this fine work." -- Air Force Magazine "Reveals (as only unofficial documents can) the magnitude of Eisenhower's task and his steady, poised progress toward V-E Day. His maturation from Marshall's staff representative to Supreme Commander is evident here, providing a magnetic study in diplomacy, strategic expertise, and profound intuition of how human beings as individuals or en masse." -- Library Journal While carrying out his missions, Eisenhower sent over one hundred letters to Marshall, his superior officer, mentor, and chief supporter. The seventy-five letters published and analyzed here trace the growth of the relationship between Eisenhower and the man who had elevated him to the position of Supreme Commander. They also describe Eisenhower's response to the problems he faced in commanding the largest and most complex military organization in history. This collection offers an interesting and penetrating look at the events that transpired and the man who orchestrated them. "Eisenhower's letters to Marshall are some of the most fascinating documents in the Eisenhower Papers... a valuable commentary on various phases of Allied strategy and the American war effort. They also disclose the man who wrote them, the development of his thought, his grasp of strategy and his technique of command." -- Army Quarterly "Although poles apart in personality -- Marshall being as cool and aloof as Eisenhower was open and gregarious -- they shared characteristics and attitudes that were militarily important. Both were staff rather than command officers who excelled in planning operations. Both agreed that a commander's first responsibility should be to build an efficient command organization, and they shared heroes in common in their admiration of Ben Franklin and Robert E. Lee." -- Kansas City Star