How Ike Led

Book excerpt: “Lays bare the essence of [President Eisenhower’s] leadership in war and peace—his singular devotion to the unity and security of the American people.” —The Wall Street Journal Few leaders have made decisions as momentous—and varied—as Dwight D. Eisenhower. From D-Day to Little Rock, from the Korean War to Cold War crises, from the Red Scare to the Missile Gap controversies, Ike was able to give our country eight years of peace and prosperity by relying on a core set of principles. These were informed by his heritage and upbringing, as well as his strong character and personal discipline—but he also avoided making himself the center of things. He was a man of judgment, and a steadying force. He sought national unity by pursuing a course he called the “Middle Way” that tried to make winners on both sides of any issue. Ike was a strategic, not an operational leader, who relied on a rigorous pursuit of the facts for decision-making. His talent for envisioning a whole, especially in the context of the long game, and his ability to see causes and various consequences, explains his success as Allied Commander and as President. After making a decision, he made himself accountable for it, recognizing that personal responsibility is the bedrock of sound principles. Written by his granddaughter, a policy analyst and national security expert, How Ike Led reveals the personality, beliefs, and habits that allowed Eisenhower to lead America through a transformational time. “As good a picture of Ike as we have ever had.” —David Nichols, author of Eisenhower 1956 “Highly personal anecdotes supplement [the author’s] research. Armchair historians will treasure this book.” —Booklist Includes photographs