If Dwight David Eisenhower had lived, he would be 135 years old today (born October 14, 1890). I know this because Eisenhower and I share the same birthday. He is also the only president that I may have seen in person (details sketchy). Eisenhower was the 34th president of the USA, serving from 1953 to 1961. Almost everyone “liked Ike” in the years after the Allied forces were victorious in Europe in 1945 – in the years leading up to his election.
An excerpt from BS: The Burdett Senger Chronicles
“On June 11, 1953, President Dwight David Eisenhower, who had been in office for only five months, came to Riverdale [North Dakota] for the ceremonial closure of the [Garrison] dam [on the Missouri River]. I have an affinity for “Ike,” in part because we shared the same birthday (October 14). But also because of the leadership he displayed during World War II, and the steadiness of his presidency at the start of the Cold War. I have always thought of him as one of the best presidents that this country has ever had.
“After six years of non-stop construction, everything paused at Garrison Dam during his brief visit. The huge “ukes” [earthmovers made by Euclid] were used to control traffic flow. Eisenhower was driven to the dam from Minot in time for a tour of the dam and his 10:30 AM speech.
“A stage was set up on the river side of the dam, near the powerhouse. A series of speakers and bands were scheduled – before and after the closure ceremony. The crowd was seated on the downstream slope of the earthen dam, looking down at the stage. The crowd estimates varied widely – from 5,000 to 60,000. I think I was there [at age 4, with my parents, family stories sketchy].
“Per the June 11, 1953 issue of The Bismarck Tribune, Ike noted that he had been raised on the river Kaw in Kansas, a tributary of the Missouri River that flooded in 1903. He said, ‘It was terrific, and it covered the whole area and I was in the midst of it. ... Never would have thought then that someday ‘man would have the temerity ever to try to harness the Big Muddy.’ He also noted that, ‘The dam was built with the people’s money. Its benefits must go to the people.’
“After his speech, he was driven to Bismarck and by the state capitol before flying onto Rapid City, South Dakota. I suspect that when he saw all the concrete being poured at Garrison Dam, the possibility of an Interstate Highway System crossed his mind.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower – the Locomotive
Anyway, Ike popped into my mind during a recent visit to the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin. I am something of a “rail fan” and was wowed when I stumbled onto the locomotive pictured above. In September 1964, the National Railroad Museum celebrated the acquisition of this engine from the British Railway Service. The human Dwight D. Eisenhower was at the museum that day to participate in the celebration. The locomotive (No. 60008, previously known as the Golden Shuttle) had been renamed the Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1945, to recognize Eisenhower’s service as the "Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force" during World War II. After the engine retired from active service in the early 1960s, it was donated, with the approval of Prince Phillip, to the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay. It is one of the three featured locomotives at the museum.
Dwight D. Eisenhower – his “Ranking”
Earlier, I stated that Eisenhower was “one of the best presidents that this country has ever had.” So how do real historians view Eisenhower? Since 1982, the Siena Research Institute (SRI) has conducted a survey of U.S. Presidents – during the second year of the first term of each new president – the last being conducted in 2022.
In the latest SRI survey, Eisenhower had worked his way up to #6 (out of 45), just behind: Franklin Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, and Thomas Jefferson. In 1990 Eisenhower was ranked #12 (out of 40); perceptions change over time. As an aside, in the 2022 rankings, Biden was #19 and Trump was #43. I expect that those rankings will flip sooner than later. Perceptions change over time.
The SRI collects rankings for 20 categories – to determine their overall rankings. Below are Eisenhower’s 2022 category rankings. I have listed them from best to worst. Remember the ranking (1 to 45) is of Eisenhower as he relates to the other 44 presidents of this country. Eisenhower’s worst category ranking (#20 for Imagination) was still above average.
Ranking – Category
#3 – Avoid Crucial Mistakes
#4 – Integrity
#4 – Luck
#5 – Leadership Ability
#5 – Executive Ability
#5 – Ability to Compromise
#5 – Court Appointments
#6 – Relationship with Congress
#6 – Handling of U.S. Economy
#7 – Domestic Accomplishments
#7 – Foreign Policy Accomplishments
#7 – Overall Ability
#9 – Party Leadership
#11 – Background (Family, Education, Experience)
#12 – Executive Appointments
#16 – Intelligence
#18 – Communication Ability (Speak, Write)
#18 – Willing to take Risks
#20 – Imagination
I have chosen not to delve into the details of the SRI survey (e.g., who is surveyed, how is “luck’ defined). The category rankings seem fair to me and are consistent with how I view Eisenhower’s service. He was “lucky” to be president during the boom years that followed the conclusion of WWII. We still drive on one of his “domestic accomplishments” – the Interstate Highway System. The abilities (e.g., leadership, executive) that he displayed as the “Supreme Commander” carried over into his presidency. His “integrity” stood out when the former supreme military leader warned us about the military industrial complex. After eight years of hearing Eisenhower speak, the nation was ready for John F. Kennedy (ranked #9 overall in 2022, #3 in Communication Ability).
Some Final Thoughts
If there was a category called “Narcissism” (#1 being minimal), I would rank Eisenhower #1. Let’s be honest; you must be a bit narcissistic to put up with all the crap that goes along with the job of president. A few presidents, however, seem to have some innate sense of duty that overrides their lack of narcissism. Eisenhower displayed that sense of duty during both his military and political careers.
Happy birthday Ike! You have a cool locomotive named after you, which the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay is taking good care of. RIP!
