Author tells Legion post of overlooked aspects of Ike's presidency
Prof. William Hitchcock, author of "The Age of Eisenhower," discussed overlooked aspects of Eisenhower's presidency at a Jan. 19 Zoom meeting of National Press Club American Legion Post 20 attended by Post and Club members interested in Ike's legacy.
The acclaimed University of Virginia historian spent 10 years researching an eight-year presidency that many of his colleagues thought too dull to be worth his effort. Hitchcock concluded otherwise.
"His character was his defining quality," Hitchcock said. "He was non-ideological" and "governed from the center, which, while he was hugely popular with the public, left him "without a cheering section." "For liberals, he didn't do enough. Conservatives thought he did too much."
For years Eisenhower languished in the bottom half for most admired presidents, but he has since risen to fifth greatest, bested only by Lincoln, Washington and Franklin and Teddy Roosevelt.
Hitchcock said underappreciated Eisenhower presidential accomplishments include avoiding brushfire wars while putting in place policies for winning the far more important Cold War, striking a "golden balance" between meeting defense and social needs while avoiding massive deficits (three balanced budgets over eight years), and advancing civil rights for Black Americans.
His forgotten civil rights record includes ending segregation in public accommodations in the District of Columbia "almost immediately" upon becoming president, completing President Truman's desegregation of the armed forces by integrating schools on military bases, establishing the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department, sending troops to Little Rock to enforce school desegregation, and appointing Earl Warren as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. "He knew Warren was a liberal on civil rights," Hitchcock said.
Eisenhower's attributes included being an optimist, honoring the office of the presidency and being far more spiritual than many realize (including being Baptized while in office, starting White House prayer breakfasts and presidential friendships with evangelist Billy Graham, and adding "In God We Trust" to the currency). He also recognized that "the presidency was only one branch of government" and gave Congress and the judiciary their due.
Hitchcock said Ike's biggest flaw was relying too much on the CIA and its director, Allen Dulles, and using covert operations as an instrument of foreign policy. It led to the U-2 incident, probably the biggest blunder of his presidency. He is also criticized for not doing more to oppose the Red Scare and Red-baiting Sen. Joseph McCarthy, although Hitchcock found evidence of behind-the-scenes efforts by Eisenhower to weaken McCarthy.
The speaker portions of Post 20 meetings are open to all Club members.