Dwight Eisenhower: The United States’ President Who Served during the 1950s

Dwight David Eisenhower was born on October 14, 1890, in Denison, Texas, to David Jacob Eisenhower and Ida Elizabeth Stover Eisenhower, but his formative years were spent in Abilene, Kansas, where his family moved when he was less than two years old. The small prairie town of Abilene, with its history as a cattle shipping point and its embodiment of frontier values, would profoundly shape the character and worldview of the future general and president. The Eisenhower family represented the hardworking, God-fearing middle class that formed the backbone of American society during the late nineteenth century, instilling in young Dwight the values of duty, perseverance, and democratic equality that would guide him throughout his remarkable career.

The Eisenhower household was one of modest means but rich in moral instruction and intellectual curiosity. David Eisenhower worked various jobs to support his growing family of seven sons, including stints as a mechanic in a local creamery and later as a supervisor, while Ida Eisenhower managed the household with the efficiency and moral authority that would later be reflected in her son's leadership style. The family's financial struggles taught all the Eisenhower boys the value of hard work and self-reliance, while their mother's deep religious faith and their father's quiet dignity provided a foundation of character that emphasized service to others and integrity in all dealings.