| Eisenhower - Soldier, General of the Army, President-Elect 1890-1952
(1983)
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| Front Cover |
Book Details |
Back Cover |
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| Genre |
Biography; Non-Fiction |
| Subject |
Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969; Generals - United States - Biography; Presidents - United States - Biography; United States. Army - Biography |
| Publication Date |
September 1983 |
| Format |
Hardcover (9.5
x
6.4
mm)
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| Publisher |
Simon & Schuster |
| Language |
English |
| Extras |
Dust Jacket; Dust Jacket Cover; Remainder |
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|
| Description |
| Dwight Eisenhower was not exactly born into poverty, but the family's circumstances were at least austere. He was one of seven children; his father, a railway worker. But the family was strong and unified, the youngsters energetic and ambitious. Ike made it to West Point, where he excelled in sports. He was a natural leader. But it was at Leavenworth years later, as a student at the war college, that his intellectual talent showed itself. He graduated first in his class. The author draws in a wealth of previously unpublished information to give us this beautiful portrait. As a result Eisenhower emerges as complex, one who as the author states, ". . .was a good and great man." |
| Personal Details |
| Store |
Alibris |
| Purchase Price |
$9.24 |
| Acquire Date |
12/26/2017 |
| Condition |
Very Good/Very Good |
| Rating |
0 |
| Links |
Library of Congress
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| Product Details |
| LoC Classification |
E836 .A828 1983 |
| Dewey |
973.9210924 |
| ISBN |
9780671440695 |
| Edition |
[1st ed.] |
| Cover Price |
$22.95 |
| No. of Pages |
637 |
| First Edition |
Yes |
| Rare |
No |
|
| Notes/Review |
Very good in very good jacket Remainder
-----------------------------------------------------------
I'm working my way through presidential whole-life biographies. Sometimes I find it difficult to pick the best book to read. The great and popular presidents have been the subject of many good biographies, making for a difficult choice. With the unpopular presidents the choice is easy because there's really no choice at all. For me, it was easy to pick the Ambrose books. I've read a fair number of Ambrose's books on World War II and have enjoyed his work.
Given Ambrose's affinity for Eisenhower, I was half expecting this work to border on hagiography. I'm happy to find that the book comes across as even-handed. Of course, I've finished only the first of the two books, but I'm thinking this even-handedness will continue through the second.
This volume covers the time up to election day of 1952, with Eisenhower becoming president-elect. It starts with a bit of family history. In between, we get his entire military career including his relationships with mentors such as Fox Conner, Douglas MacArthur, and George Marshall. Much of the book necessarily covers World War II (both endplates are WWII maps). After the war, we learn about his stints as Chief of Staff, president of Columbia, and his time with NATO. Finally, there's the campaign.
I look forward to reading the second volume. Now that I've gotten into presidents who served in times I'm much more familiar with I think I can read the history with a more critical eye. I already intend to read Ambrose's Nixon books, and one or two little gems in this first Eisenhower volume already have me on my toes. When Ambrose tells me flat-out that Nixon was not a crook I know I'll have to keep my guard up. This first volume covered territory I was already fairly familiar with, and I found it, as I said, balanced.
This first volume didn't cover much politics or policy. Eisenhower's political strategy was to remain fundamentally apolitical. Today's conservatives look back fondly on Eisenhower, but I suspect that's primarily because today the 50's are seen as a time of American prosperity and power; the calm before the civil upheavals of the 60's. Ask people what Eisenhower did as president and I'm not sure that they'd be able to answer with any specifics, other than building the Interstate highway system. |
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