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As the great American hero of the war, both parties wanted him as a presidential candidate. He kept out of politics until 1952, but was increasing hostile to the liberalism and corruption of the [[Harry S. Truman|Truman Administration]]. In 1952 Ike argued for a vigorous anti-Communist foreign policy in defeating the isolationist Senator [[Robert A. Taft]] for the [[Republican Party|Republican nomination]] and was elected by a landslide. As president he followed conservative economic policies recommended by Taft, but continued what was left of the New Deal and expanded Social Security. In foreign policy he kept the containment policy in the [[Cold War]] and ended the [[Korean War]]. Eisenhower  sponsored the [[Interstate Highway System]], signed the first civil rights bill in 82 years, and promoted domestic policies known as "dynamic conservatism".  He repeatedly warned against deficit spending but launched no great moral crusade, nor did he engage in an idealistic pursuit of some overriding national goal. Critics led by Democrat [[John F. Kennedy]] charged that Eisenhower was quite content to preside over a fat, happy, satisfied nation that devoted itself to the good life. Eisenhower largely ignored partisan politics, leaving that to his Vice President [[Richard Nixon]], who was defeated in 1960 by Kennedy when he tried to run on the achievements of the Eisenhower administration.

As the great American hero of the war, both parties wanted him as a presidential candidate. He kept out of politics until 1952, but was increasing hostile to the liberalism and corruption of the [[Harry S. Truman|Truman Administration]]. In 1952 Ike argued for a vigorous anti-Communist foreign policy in defeating the isolationist Senator [[Robert A. Taft]] for the [[Republican Party|Republican nomination]] and was elected by a landslide. As president he followed conservative economic policies recommended by Taft, but continued what was left of the New Deal and expanded Social Security. In foreign policy he kept the containment policy in the [[Cold War]] and ended the [[Korean War]]. Eisenhower  sponsored the [[Interstate Highway System]], signed the first civil rights bill in 82 years, and promoted domestic policies known as "dynamic conservatism".  He repeatedly warned against deficit spending but launched no great moral crusade, nor did he engage in an idealistic pursuit of some overriding national goal. Critics led by Democrat [[John F. Kennedy]] charged that Eisenhower was quite content to preside over a fat, happy, satisfied nation that devoted itself to the good life. Eisenhower largely ignored partisan politics, leaving that to his Vice President [[Richard Nixon]], who was defeated in 1960 by Kennedy when he tried to run on the achievements of the Eisenhower administration.

==Early career==

==Early career==

Eisenhower was born in Denison, Texas, on Oct. 14, 1890 of Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. The name his parents gave him at that time was David Dwight Eisenhower - a name that wasn't switched to its more familiar form until the time of Eisenhower's enrollment at West Point.  His father, David Jacob Eisenhower, was of Bavarian Mennonite descent; his mother, Ida Elizabeth (Stover) Eisenhower, was of Swiss descent. The families of both parents came to America prior to 1750. Three hundred "River Brethren," including his father, moved to farms in Kansas in the 1880s.  His parents were college educated, but lost their inheritance and lived poor working class lives in Abilene (apart from a short stay in Texas where Ike was born).  Ike maintained close ties with Abilene his entire life. There he grew up in an environment of strong family religious traditions; his father was distant, known only as a harsh disciplinarian, but his mother had a level of activism and a sparkle in her eye that Ike inherited.  In the 1890s his parents left the Mennonites to join the [[Jehovah Witness]] religion, a highly controversial group because of its refusal to salute the flag. His mother was a leader of the Witnesses but Eisenhower was never a member.<ref>Gerald Bergman, "The Influence of Religion on President Eisenhower's Upbringing" ''Journal of American & Comparative Cultures'' (2000) 23(4): 89-107. Issn: 1537-4726 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]; As President Eisenhower was baptized into the Presbyterian church--the only president to be baptized while in office. [http://www.classroomhelp.com/lessons/Presidents/eisenhower.html see source]</ref> Eisenhower had six brothers; they all had successful careers. The oldest, Arthur, became a banker; Edgar a lawyer; Roy a pharmacist; Earl an electrical engineer; and Milton a [[New Deal]] official, became president the Johns Hopkins University and a close adviser to Ike.  

Eisenhower was born David Dwight Eisenhower in Denison, Texas, on Oct. 14, 1890 of Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. The name his parents gave him at that time was David Dwight Eisenhower - a name that wasn't switched to its more familiar form until the time of Eisenhower's enrollment at West Point.  His father, David Jacob Eisenhower, was of Bavarian Mennonite descent; his mother, Ida Elizabeth (Stover) Eisenhower, was of Swiss descent. The families of both parents came to America prior to 1750. Three hundred "River Brethren," including his father, moved to farms in Kansas in the 1880s.  His parents were college educated, but lost their inheritance and lived poor working class lives in Abilene (apart from a short stay in Texas where Ike was born).  Ike maintained close ties with Abilene his entire life. There he grew up in an environment of strong family religious traditions; his father was distant, known only as a harsh disciplinarian, but his mother had a level of activism and a sparkle in her eye that Ike inherited.  In the 1890s his parents left the Mennonites to join the [[Jehovah Witness]] religion, a highly controversial group because of its refusal to salute the flag. His mother was a leader of the Witnesses but Eisenhower was never a member.<ref>Gerald Bergman, "The Influence of Religion on President Eisenhower's Upbringing" ''Journal of American & Comparative Cultures'' (2000) 23(4): 89-107. Issn: 1537-4726 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]; As President Eisenhower was baptized into the Presbyterian church--the only president to be baptized while in office. [http://www.classroomhelp.com/lessons/Presidents/eisenhower.html see source]</ref> Eisenhower had six brothers; they all had successful careers. The oldest, Arthur, became a banker; Edgar a lawyer; Roy a pharmacist; Earl an electrical engineer; and Milton a [[New Deal]] official, became president the Johns Hopkins University and a close adviser to Ike.  

Eisenhower was well educated in the small city's public schools and graduated from Abilene High School in 1909. He told a party rally that year that he was a Democrat. Despite the strong pacifist sentiment in the community, Eisenhower entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1911. Cadet Eisenhower was outstanding as a football player until he injured a knee in his sophomore year.  He became a student coach with a deep knowledge of the game and for the next decade was in demand as a football coach at different army posts. His academic performance was average and he was commissioned a second lieutenant in June 1915 in the "class stars fell upon."  The World War was underway in Europe, but it made little impact on the West Point curriculum, which was oriented toward military engineering and history, and above all to complex teamwork (and a disdain for politicians).  

Eisenhower was well educated in the small city's public schools and graduated from Abilene High School in 1909. He told a party rally that year that he was a Democrat. Despite the strong pacifist sentiment in the community, Eisenhower entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1911. Cadet Eisenhower was outstanding as a football player until he injured a knee in his sophomore year.  He became a student coach with a deep knowledge of the game and for the next decade was in demand as a football coach at different army posts. His academic performance was average and he was commissioned a second lieutenant in June 1915 in the "class stars fell upon."  The World War was underway in Europe, but it made little impact on the West Point curriculum, which was oriented toward military engineering and history, and above all to complex teamwork (and a disdain for politicians).