• Dwight D. Eisenhower - Audio Biography

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Dwight D. Eisenhower - Audio Biography

By: Quiet. Please
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  • Bringing to the Presidency his prestige as commanding general of the victorious forces in Europe during World War II, Dwight D. Eisenhower obtained a truce in Korea and worked incessantly during his two terms to ease the tensions of the Cold War. He pursued the moderate policies of “Modern Republicanism,” pointing out as he left office, “America is today the strongest, most influential, and most productive nation in the world.”Born in Texas in 1890, brought up in Abilene, Kansas, Eisenhower was the third of seven sons. He excelled in sports in high school, and received an appointment to West Point. Stationed in Texas as a second lieutenant, he met Mamie Geneva Doud, whom he married in 1916.In his early Army career, he excelled in staff assignments, serving under Generals John J. Pershing, Douglas MacArthur, and Walter Krueger. After Pearl Harbor, General George C. Marshall called him to Washington for a war plans assignment. He commanded the Allied Forces landing in North Africa in November 1942; on D-Day, 1944, he was Supreme Commander of the troops invading France.After the war, he became President of Columbia University, then took leave to assume supreme command over the new NATO forces being assembled in 1951. Republican emissaries to his headquarters near Paris persuaded him to run for President in 1952.“I like Ike” was an irresistible slogan; Eisenhower won a sweeping victory.Negotiating from military strength, he tried to reduce the strains of the Cold War. In 1953, the signing of a truce brought an armed peace along the border of South Korea. The death of Stalin the same year caused shifts in relations with Russia.New Russian leaders consented to a peace treaty neutralizing Austria. Meanwhile, both Russia and the United States had developed hydrogen bombs. With the threat of such destructive force hanging over the world, Eisenhower, with the leaders of the British, French, and Russian governments, met at Geneva in July 1955.The President proposed that the United States and Russia exchange blueprints of each other’s military establishments and “provide within our countries facilities for aerial photography to the other country.” The Russians greeted the proposal with silence, but were so cordial throughout the meetings that tensions relaxed.Suddenly, in September 1955, Eisenhower suffered a heart attack in Denver, Colorado. After seven weeks he left the hospital, and in February 1956 doctors reported his recovery. In November he was elected for his second term.In domestic policy the President pursued a middle course, continuing most of the New Deal and Fair Deal programs, emphasizing a balanced budget. As desegregation of schools began, he sent troops into Little Rock, Arkansas, to assure compliance with the orders of a Federal court; he also ordered the complete desegregation of the Armed Forces. “There must be no second class citizens in this country,” he wrote.Eisenhower concentrated on maintaining world peace. He watched with pleasure the development of his “atoms for peace” program–the loan of American uranium to “have not” nations for peaceful purposes.Before he left office in January 1961, for his farm in Gettysburg, he urged the necessity of maintaining an adequate military strength, but cautioned that vast, long-continued military expenditures could breed potential dangers to our way of life. He concluded with a prayer for peace “in the goodness of time.” Both themes remained timely and urgent when he died, after a long illness, on March 28, 1969.
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  • Dwight D Eisenhower - Audio Biography

    Dwight D Eisenhower - Audio Biography
    Nov 14 2023
    Welcome to the Dwight D Eisenhower Audio Biography.
    This audio biography is sourced from The White House and recorded for your enjoyment by Quiet Please Studios. If you enjoy this be sure to check out Dwight Eisenhower Great Speeches podcast. Now for the Dwight Eisenhower Biography.

    In the grand narrative of America's journey, few chapters are as rich with courage, leadership, and a steadfast vision for peace as that of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Commanding General of the victorious forces in Europe during World War II, Eisenhower brought to the Presidency not just his military laurels but a deep, unwavering commitment to steer the nation through the choppy waters of the Cold War.
    Born under the wide Texas sky in 1890 and raised in the heartland of Abilene, Kansas, Eisenhower was the third of seven sons. A high school star in sports, he carried his competitive spirit to West Point, setting the stage for a life dedicated to service. In the warm expanses of Texas, as a young second lieutenant, he met and married Mamie Geneva Doud, beginning a partnership that would endure through decades of public life.
    Eisenhower's early Army career was a study in excellence and dedication. He served under giants of military leadership — Pershing, MacArthur, and Krueger — honing his skills in the art of strategy and command. With the world thrown into turmoil by Pearl Harbor, Eisenhower emerged as a pivotal figure, planning the Allied Forces' landing in North Africa and later orchestrating the historic D-Day invasion as Supreme Commander.
    Post-war, Eisenhower's journey took him to the helm of Columbia University and then to the forefront of the NATO forces, where he would soon be called upon to lead not just soldiers but a nation. In 1952, propelled by the affectionate slogan "I like Ike," Eisenhower swept into the Presidency with a vision to temper the global tensions of the Cold War era.
    Eisenhower's presidency was marked by a delicate balancing act — negotiating peace while maintaining military strength. The truce in Korea in 1953 and the neutralization of Austria marked significant steps in softening global hostilities. Yet, the development of hydrogen bombs by both the U.S. and Russia cast a long shadow, compelling Eisenhower to propose bold initiatives like the exchange of military blueprints to promote transparency and trust.
    Amidst these global strides, Eisenhower faced personal challenges, notably a heart attack in 1955. Yet, his resilience was as unwavering as his commitment to service, and he returned to win a second term. His domestic policies walked a line of moderation, continuing key social programs while advocating for fiscal responsibility. A champion of equality, he took decisive action in the desegregation of schools and the armed forces, affirming the principle that in America, there must be no second-class citizens.
    Eisenhower's tenure saw not only the quest for peace among nations but also a pioneering venture into peaceful nuclear energy, his “atoms for peace” program. As he left office for his farm in Gettysburg, he voiced a prayer for peace and a warning about the perils of prolonged military spending — words that resonated with poignant urgency when he passed away on March 28, 1969, after a long illness.
    In Eisenhower's story, we find the essence of the American spirit — a relentless pursuit of peace, underpinned by strength, guided by wisdom, and marked by an unyielding commitment to the principles upon which the nation was built.
    Thank you for listening and you can enjoy our other Audio Biographies just by searching Audio Biography where ever you listen to your podcasts.
    For more on Dwight Eisenhower. Search Dwight Eisenhower - Great Speeches and hear Eisenhower is his own words.
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    4 mins

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