Though I am a Democrat, I have the utmost respect for Dwight D. Eisenhower, both for his military career as the Supreme Allied Commander at the end of WWII, and for his presidency. For Eisenhower was the last good Republican President.
Eisenhower was a genius at finding consensus: he performed a military miracle in leading the combined British, French, and American forces in the invasions of Africa and Europe. The most important day in the 20th century for Western Civilization was June 6, 1944 with the Allied invasion of Normandy, the beginning of the end of Nazi Germany. As President, Eisenhower governed by consensus---getting everyone to agree on the best solution to every problem. He was a centrist. He governed from the middle, as opposed to the current President, who governs not from trying to find consensus, but from his own narrow point-of-view, not caring about the consequences.
This is a light overview of Eisenhower's career. I would call it the People magazine version of Ike's life, but this is just what I sought.
I read this biography to remember the 50's---better times in the body politic--- and to contrast that time and that President with the horrible President we are afflicted with now.
Time will only enhance Ike's stature and diminish that of George W. Bush.
3 comments:
I saw Michael Korda discussing this book on the Charlie Rose Show. He said that had anyone else led the Allied forces, we probably would have lost the war. What do you think of that statement?
He also compared Ike to Ulysses Grant. Interestingly, he said he thinks Grant's memoirs are the best work of nonfiction in American literature - he called them the Moby Dick of nonfiction.
From what I've read, I would say that Eisenhower WAS probably the only general who could have led the Allied forces. The only other name you see mentioned is General George C. Marshall. But FDR picked Ike, and the rest is history.I have read repeated references to Grant's memoirs as being the best presidential memories in US history.
You write very well.
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