Dwight David Eisenhower (1890 – 1969)
The 34th President of the United States, 1953 – 1961
Normal Rockwell’s Dwight Eisenhower
AKA: Ike
From: Born in Texas, raised in Kansas
College: United States Military Academy
Married to: Mamie Geneva Doud
Children: Doud Dwight and John Sheldon Doud Eisenhower
Party: Republican
Previous Jobs: Night supervisor at a creamery, US Army, US Chief of Staff of the Army, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Chief of Staff of the Army, University President, NATO Supreme Commander
In His Words: “Neither a wise man or a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.”
“There is one thing about being President — nobody can tell you when to sit down.”
“Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history.”
“Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.”
“The one quality that can be developed by studious reflection and practice is the leadership of men.”
“Un-American activity cannot be prevented or routed out by employing un-American methods; to preserve freedom we must use the tools that freedom provides.”
Not true: There’s a viral email that makes the rounds stating that “Operation Wetback,” which ran during Eisenhower’s administration, deported 13,000,000 illegal immigrants. It’s stated this program also swept up and deported large numbers of legal residents and citizens. Though the program did exist, it resulted in less than 100,000 deportations, and perhaps an additional 500,000 illegal immigrants leaving the country before they were apprehended. The program was controversial and there were reports of abuse, but not nearly on the scale alleged by the viral emails.
True: Eisenhower was responsible for the lives of millions during WWII, as he was in charge of war planning, and later implementing those plans, in Europe. He oversaw the invasion of Italy and the liberation of western Europe from Nazi control. He was the first General elected President since Ulysses S Grant, and is one of only 5 Presidents that did not hold an elected office before becoming President.
The Official Portrait:
This painting is the official portrait of the President. The artist, J. Anthony Wills from Houston, Texas painted 5 copies of the portrait. One of them hangs in the White House and one is at his Presidential Library in Abilene, KS. The location of the other three copies is unknown.
You say the other three official paintings locations are unknown? I just came back from Eisenhower Hospital, located in Rancho Mirage, CA. The Coachella Valley was one of his stomping grounds from the evidence I see down here. He was good friends with the Annenbergs, spent time at their home which is called Sunnylands. They donated a large sum of money to Eisenhower Hospital to build what is now known as the north wing of the hospital. It’s a beautiful building that has 4 floors and in the main lobby (on the Bob Hope Drive side) is a glass case that showcases the short wave radio he used to get information in regards to WWII and which of he made many of his decisions from along with a number of photographs, including one where his wife is posing with one of the five official paintings (1976). Down the corridor, behind the security guard station, hangs unguarded, unroped off, up close and personal of what appears to be an oil painting that looks very much like this one. It’s a beautiful paintings, eye catching and I think I’m one of the few who notice it as you walk by that area. I took special interest in it because I thought I seen it somewhere before. Now I know where, thanks to your information above. I do believe one of the three you are looking for hangs in the lobby of this hospital.
One of the Eisenhower Portraits hangs above the door to the Presidential Box of the Eisenhower Theater in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. The Kennedy Center is the National Cultural Center of the United States which was authorized on September 4, 1958 when Eisenhower signed the National Cultural Center Act. According to the plaque on the portrait, it had belonged to a married couple who donated it to the Kennedy Center. The Eisenhower Theater hosted its first performance on October 18, 1971.