Eisenhower, Dwight David (‘Ike’)

34th president of the USA 1953–60, a Republican. A general in World War II, he commanded the Allied forces in Italy in 1943, then the Allied invasion of Europe, and from October 1944 all the Allied armies in the West. As president he promoted business interests at home and conducted the Cold War abroad. His vice-president was Richard Nixon.

Eisenhower was born at Denison, Texas. A graduate of West Point military academy in 1915, he served in a variety of staff and command posts before World War II. He became commander-in-chief of the US and British forces for the invasion of North Africa in November 1942, commanded the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943, and announced the surrender of Italy on 8 September 1943. In December he became commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force for the invasion of Europe and was promoted to General of the Army in December 1944. After the war he served as commander of the US Occupation Forces in Germany, then returned to the USA to become Chief of Staff. He served as president of Columbia University and chair of the joint Chiefs of Staff 1949–50. Eisenhower became supreme commander of the Allied Powers in Europe in 1950, and organized the defence forces in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He resigned from the army in 1952 to campaign for the presidency; he was elected, and re-elected by a wide margin in 1956.

A popular politician, Eisenhower held office during a period of domestic and international tension, although the USA was experiencing an era of post-war prosperity and growth. Major problems during his administration included the ending of the Korean War, the growing civil-rights movement at home, and the Cold War. His proposals on disarmament and the control of nuclear weapons led to the first International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, held under the auspices of the United Nations at Geneva in 1955.