Dwight D Eisenhower Facts - 34th President of USA

The thirty-fourth president of the United States of America Dwight D Eisenhower facts. He was born in Denison, Texas on October 14, 1890.

He was the third son out of seven to be born to David Jacob Eisenhower, his father, and Ida Elizabeth Stover, his mother. His birth name was David Dwight, but he was always called Dwight.

Eisenhower attended Abilene High School in Abilene, Kansas, and graduated in 1909. Then he became a night foreman at Belle Springs Creamery. He worked for two years in order to support his brother's education. 

He applied to the Naval Academy, but could not be admitted because he was too old at the time. He was recommended to the Military Academy in 1911 and he graduated in 1915. 

Eisenhower married Mamie Geneva Doud on July 1, 1916.  They had two sons:  Doud Dwight Eisenhower and John Sheldon Doud Eisenhower. Doud died when he was only three of scarlet fever. 

He served in the infantry until 1919 in Georgia and Texas. He served in the Panama Canal Zone until 1924 and studied military theory and history. 

Eisenhower became a five-star general in the Army. During World War II, he was the Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe. He was responsible for planning and supervising the invasion of Germany and France in the years 1944-1945. He became the first supreme commander of NATO in 1951. 

As the 34th President, he was there for the cease-fire of the Korean War. He put pressure on the Soviet Union during the Cold War. He increased the importance of nuclear weapons. Also, started the Space Race. 

He encouraged the Social Security program and started the Interstate Highway System. He was the final veteran of World War I to be a U.S. president, and also the last president to be born in the 19th century. He had a high approval rating during his presidency. 

However, when he left office, his reputation was declining and he was seen by many as a president who did not do anything significant. Although he did act to use Army troops to enforce desegregation in Little Rock at Central High School, he didn't do much to support the civil rights movement.

After his presidency, Eisenhower retired to a working farm next to the battlefield of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He died on March 28, 1969, of congestive heart failure at Walter Reed Army Hospital.  He was buried next to his son, Doud, who died at three years old, and his wife, Mamie, who died in 1979.

Read Dwight Eisenhower Facts

NICKNAME
Ike

BIRTH
Dwight David Eisenhower was born on October 14, 1890
in Denison, Texas

MOTHER
Ida Elizabeth Stover

FATHER
David Jacob Eisenhower

SISTERS
None

BROTHERS
Arthur, Edgar, Roy, Earl, and Milton

MARRIAGE
Mamie Geneva Doud July 1, 1916
in Denver, Colorado

CHILDREN
Doud Dwight, and John Sheldon

EDUCATION
Public schools
Graduated in 1915 from U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.

RELIGION
Presbyterian

PRE-PRESIDENCY PROFESSION
Soldier

MILITARY SERVICE
Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in U.S. Army (1915)
After World War, I, promoted to Major in 1920
Became Lieutenant Colonel in 1936
Promoted to Colonel in 1941
Named Commander of European Theater of Operations (1942)
Supreme Commander of Allied Expeditionary Force
in Western Europe (1943)
Promoted to General of the Army (1944)
Named Army chief of staff (1945)
The supreme commander of Allied powers in Europe (1951)

POLITICAL LIFE

Supreme Commander of (NATO) the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (1951-1952)

POLITICAL PARTY
Republican

INAUGURATION
January 20, 1953, at the age of 62
Dwight David Eisenhower - First and Second Term Inaugural Address

Dwight Eisenhower Administration

PRESIDENCY
Dwight David Eisenhower served two terms
(January 20, 1953 - January 20, 1961)
VICE PRESIDENT
Richard M. Nixon (1953-1961)
FIRST LADY
Mamie Eisenhower (1953-1961)
Facts about Mamie Eisenhower
Biography of Mamie Eisenhower
SUPREME COURT APPOINTMENTS
Earl Warren, Chief Justice (1954)
John Marshall Harlan (1955)
William J. Bennan (1956)
STATES ADMITTED TO THE UNION
Alaska (1959)
Hawaii (1959)

Dwight Eisenhower Cabinet

SECRETARY OF STATE
John Foster Dulles (1953-1959)
Christian A. Herter (1959-1961)

SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
George M. Humphrey (1953-1957)
Robert B. Anderson (1957-1961)

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
Charles E. Wilson (1953-1957)
Neil H. McElroy (1957-1959)
Thomas S. Gates Jr. (1959-1961)

ATTORNEY GENERAL
Herbert Brownell Jr. (1953-1957)
William P. Rogers (1957-1961)

POSTMASTER GENERAL
Arthur E. Summerfield (1953-1961)

SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
Douglas McKay (1953-1956)
Frederick A. Seaton (1956-1961)

SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
Ezra Taft Benson (1953-1961)

SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
Sinclair Weeks (1953-1958)
Frederick H. Mueller (1959-1961)

SECRETARY OF LABOR
Martin P. Durkin (1953, January-September)

SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
Oveta Culp Hobby, First to serve in this new cabinet post, (1953-1955)
Marion B. Folsom (1955-1958)
Arthur S. Flemming (1958-1961)

POST PRESIDENCY LIFE

Retired; Author

DEATH
March 28, 1969, in Washington, D.C. at the age of 78

BURIAL PLACE
Abilene, Kansas

LANDMARKS
Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Park, Denison, Texas
Eisenhower National Historic Site, Gettysburg, Pa. (retirement home)
Eisenhower Center (including the presidential library, museum, family home, and grave), Abilene, Kansas