Eisenhower, Dwight D. (1890–1969)

DWIGHT EISENHOWER was an American military commander and president. Born on October 14, 1890, in Denison, Texas, and reared in Kansas, Eisenhower attended the U.S. Military Academy. There he first developed a love of poker and created a “poker face” that would serve him well in later years. During his long military career before World War II, he served under distinguished generals such as John J. Pershing and Douglas MacArthur. Eisenhower studied MacArthur's flair for drama during a long stint with him in the Philippines; in his later career he would develop into an even more capable politico-military commander than MacArthur, but with a far less egotistical way of operating.

Serving as a staff officer on the eve of World War II, Eisenhower was promoted above ...