Overview
Dwight D. Eisenhower was a leading U.S. general during World War II, directing the huge D-Day invasion of German-occupied France in 1944. A career officer in the U.S. Army, Eisenhower had never held political office, but his intelligence and calm manner made him an attractive political candidate. Under the slogan "I Like Ike," he was elected president on the Republican ticket in 1952 and re-elected in 1956, holding office during a period of prosperity at home and peace abroad. Soon after taking office, Eisenhower achieved an armistice ending the Korean conflict. During the rest of his term, he avoided military involvements overseas, but supported a huge increase in stockpiles of nuclear weapons in an "arms race" with the Communist Soviet Union. He gained approval of the federal Interstate Highway System and strengthened Social Security, the federal insurance system providing benefits to retired workers.Synopsis
Dwight D. Eisenhower was a leading U.S. general during World War II, directing the huge D-Day invasion of German-occupied France in 1944. A career officer in the U.S. Army, Eisenhower had never held political office, but his intelligence and calm manner made him an attractive political candidate. Under the slogan "I Like Ike," he was elected president on the Republican ticket in 1952 and re-elected in 1956, holding office during a period of prosperity at home and peace abroad. Soon after taking office, Eisenhower achieved an armistice ending the Korean conflict. During the rest of his term, he avoided military involvements overseas, but supported a huge increase in stockpiles of nuclear weapons in an "arms race" with the Communist Soviet Union. He gained approval of the federal Interstate Highway System and strengthened Social Security, the federal insurance system providing benefits to retired workers.