The white house years, jim newton produces an engaging if conflicted work of presidential history, with the author torn between putting eisenhower on a pedestal and tearing. Chuck hagel, distinguished professor, georgetown university. Norman lear jim newton has written a captivating book that reinforces the rising tide of positive studies of the eisenhower presidency. Jan 06, 2012 of the 88 staffers at eisenhowers white house, a dozen stayed for the full eight years, among them a core of such prominent aides as james hagerty press secretary, bryce harlow speechwriting. Bringing to the presidency his prestige as commanding general of the victorious forces in europe during world war ii, dwight d. The reports are more detailed than the ones provided for the edwards afb meeting. Eisenhower, a republican, took office as president following his victory over democrat adlai stevenson in the 1952 presidential election. His unofficial side revealed, new york times, april 24, 1932. The white house years mandate for change 1953 1956 and waging peace 19561961 publication. The white house years is a very well written, interesting, and informative look at what ike did as president and yes inaction was really action. Suddenly, in september 1955, eisenhower suffered a heart attack in denver, colorado. Presidential valets white house historical association.
Despite a republican in the white house, the democratic party controlled congress for six of the eight years eisenhower served as president. Julie nixon married david eisenhower but not at the white. There were several eyewitness reports of a second meeting between ike and ets at holloman afb in new mexico, which is only about 120 miles from the wellknown roswell incident. It is the story of eisenhowers farewell address, in which he astonished the country 70 million people watched on television by warning of the. They still moved frequentlywashington, new york, and parisbut finally enjoyed the luxury of eight years in one homethe white house. The eisenhower of veteran journalist jim newtons rendering is shrewd, sentimental, and tempestuous. The eisenhower years the white house years, simply and eloquently, delivers the man, his presidency and, if america is paying attention, the life lessons that are his legacy. Kennedy succeeded him after winning the 1960 presidential election. Lillian rogers parks, my thirty years backstairs at the white house new york.
He blends masterful writing with historic detail and provides the valueadded of ike as the man and the leader. The eisenhower years the successful candidate, general dwight d. This book give new meaning to the concept of the hidden hand of the presidency. Eisenhower and members of the cabinet and administrative assistants are pictured in the cabinet room of the white house. Dwight eisenhower white house years mandate for change. Newtons contribution is as cogent an inventory of eisenhowers white house years as ive ever read. After seven weeks he left the hospital, and in february 1956 doctors reported his recovery. Did president eisenhower meet aliens at air force bases.
No other member of eisenhowers wartime staff ever provided confirmation of summersbys assertions. The first meeting with the aliens and president eisenhower occurred at edwards afb in february 1954. The white house years mandate for change 1953 1956 and waging peace 19561961 author. The white house years a new biography on eisenhower is engaging but airbrushes some of ikes mistakes and flaws. Reelection every two years meant congressmen were always running. The white house years newtons book is thorough and reasonable. The white house years, jim newton does a superb job of dispelling that false myth and describing eisenhower as a dedicated chief executive who excelled at running the country. Two volumes, octavo, original cloth, pictorial map endpapers.
Eisenhower defeated democratic candidate adlai stevenson ii in a landslide, with an electoral margin of 442 to 89, marking the first republican return to the white house in 20 years. Mandate for change 19531956 and the white house years. He spent nine months in walter reed army hospital until his. The white house years, by jim newton august 21, 2012 josh daffern patheos explore the worlds faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality. Eisenhower wrote two volumes of memoirs about his white house years as well as a chatty bestseller, at ease. Eisenhowers militaryindustry complex warning, 50 years. Suggs reported that his father had attended the meeting between ike and the ets. Jim newton newly discovered and declassified documents make for a surprising and revealing portrait of the president we thought we knew. Eisenhower 18901969 could have run for president for either party but was. The white house years, in which he recounts the tenure of president dwight eisenhower. The white house years, shows what an effective president dwight d. What congress looked like from inside the eisenhower white house.
Due to lowcost government loans, the introduction of the credit card, and other factors, total private debt not including corporations grew. This is the second volume of eisenhower s presidential memoirs, picking up. The white house years hardcover january 1, 1965 by dwight d. Eisenhower was the only army general elected president in the twentieth century. Originally built for the state, war and navy departments between. He recently moved to ucla where he teaches and serves as editorinchief of a school. Dwight david eisenhower, born david dwight eisenhower, nicknamed ike, was a general of the army five star general in the united states army and u.
Eisenhower executive office building the white house. He loved to march about in his miniature army uniform, wrote jim newton in his book, eisenhower, the white house years. What congress looked like from inside the eisenhower white. Eisenhower, defeated the democratic candidate, adlai e. Like millions of other americans, the eisenhowers overcame the strains of war by being together again. Maintained by the general services administration, it is occupied by the executive office of the president, including the. Eisenhower white house 1953 1961 white house historical. Mamie eisenhower 18961979 was an american first lady 195361 and the wife of famed u.
Eisenhower began at noon est on january 20, 1953, with his inauguration as the 34th president of the united states, and ended on january 20, 1961. A republican, as president, he presided over a period that was characterized by economic prosperity and conformity in the midst of the cold war. The eisenhower executive office building eeobformerly known as the old executive office building oeob and even earlier as the state, war, and navy buildingis a u. We need this book and its insights to judge the vicious and counterproductive politics of these days. Eisenhower of popular imagination is a benign figure, armed with a putter, a winning smile, and little else. Army commander and 34th president of the united states, dwight d. Jan 17, 2011 eisenhower, a retired fivestar army general, the man who led the allies on dday, made the remarks in his farewell speech from the white house. Phone call with general eisenhower during cuban missile crisis duration.
The white house years ike said it should take 23 of the senate to defeat a presidential appointee to the executive branch. Eisenhower met with two nordic appearings, blueeyed ets. Yet, by the standards of todays republicans, eisenhower was a liberal who accepted new deal social programs, showed no interest in massive tax cuts and opposed americas enemies while refusing to support a military buildup. The stock market performed very well while eisenhower was in the white house, with the dow jones industrial average more than doubling from 288 to 634, and personal income increased by 45 percent. In february 1955, approximately 300 people saw air force one land at. Of the 88 staffers at eisenhowers white house, a dozen stayed for the full eight years, among them a core of such prominent aides as james.
Norman lear jim newton has written a captivating book that reinforces the. Belittled by his critics as the babysitterinchief, eisenhower ground. His achievements were many he was an innovator and had strong executive ability and the gift of command. Eisenhower, a retired fivestar army general, the man who led the allies on dday, made the remarks in his farewell speech from the white house. He sought balance for america the pursuit and preservation of social gains, for instance, while refraining from government overreach.
The exhibit eisenhowers middle road spotlights a prescription for peace and prosperity that guided ike throughout his eight years in the white house. Presidential advisers the eisenhower and kennedy years president dwight d. The eisenhower executive office building is located next to the west wing, and houses a majority of offices for white house staff. Julie nixon married david eisenhower 50 years ago and refused a white house ceremony one presidents daughter, another presidents grandson and. Presidential years, white house, white house staff dwight d.
The white house was therefore reorganized to resemble a military table of. Jim newtons eisenhower, the white house years, simply and eloquently, delivers the man, his presidency and, if america is paying attention, the life lessons that are his legacy. The president eisenhower of popular imagination is a benign figure, armed with a putter, a winning smile, and little else. Eisenhower on november 19, 1952, discuss the upcoming transfer of power. The eisenhower and kennedy years presidential advisers. Eisenhower and members of the cabinet and administrative assistants are pictured in the cabinet room of. The white house years was published in 2011 and is jim newtons second biography. Eisenhower brought to the white house an unprecedented experience with the military staff system and a settled conviction that it was the only sensible and efficient way to run the government. First editions of each volume of president eisenhowers memoirs.