Mamie Geneva Doud Eisenhower (November 14, 1896 –
November 1, 1979) was the wife of General and President
Dwight D. Eisenhower, and First
Lady of the United States from 1953 to 1961.
Early life
Born in Boone, Iowa, Mamie Doud moved with her family to Colorado when she was seven. Her father, John Sheldon Doud, married to Elivera Carlson, had retired at the age
of 36 after making a fortune in the meatpacking industry. After briefly living in
Pueblo and then Colorado Springs,
the Douds settled in Denver. Mamie and her three sisters grew up in a large house with
several servants.
Birthplace of Mamie Doud Eisenhower, 709 (formerly 718) Carroll Street, Boone, Iowa
Marriage and family
During winters the family made long visits to relatives in the milder climate of San
Antonio, Texas. There, in 1915, at Fort Sam Houston, Mamie met Dwight D.
Eisenhower, a young second lieutenant on his first tour of duty. On St. Valentine's Day
in 1916 he gave her a miniature of his West Point class ring to seal a
formal engagement; they were married at the Doud home in Denver on July 1.
Mamie Eisenhower, with her husband, Dwight, on the steps of St. Louis College, San Antonio, Texas, in 1916
For years Mamie Eisenhower's life followed the pattern of other Army wives: a
succession of posts in the United States, in the Panama Canal Zone; duty in
France, in the Philippines. She once estimated that in 37
years she had unpacked her household at least 27 times. Each move meant another step in the career ladder for her husband, with
increasing responsibilities for her.
Their first son Doud Dwight Eisenhower or "Icky," who was born in 1917, died of scarlet fever
in 1921. A second child, John Sheldon Doud Eisenhower, was born in 1922 in Denver. Like
his father he had a career in the army; later he became an author and served as a U.S. ambassador to Belgium.
During World War II, while promotion and fame came to "Ike," his wife lived in
Washington, D.C. After he became president of Columbia University in 1948, the Eisenhowers purchased a farm at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was the first home they had ever owned. His duties as commander of
North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces—and hers as his hostess at a villa near Paris—delayed work on their dream home, finally completed in 1955.[1]
First Lady of the United States
Mamie Eisenhower in her inaugural gown, painted in 1953 by Thomas Stevens
They celebrated with a housewarming picnic for the staff from their last temporary quarters: the White House. Diplomacy—and air travel—in the postwar world brought changes in their official hospitality.
The Eisenhowers entertained an unprecedented number of heads of state and leaders of
foreign governments. As First Lady, her outgoing manner, her feminine love of pretty clothes, some of them designed by
Scaasi, [2] jewelry, and
her obvious pride in husband and home made her a very popular First Lady.
Mamie was known as a penny pincher who clipped coupons for
the White House staff. Her recipe for "Mamie's million dollar fudge" was reproduced by housewives all over the country after it
was printed in many publications.
Because of her connection with the city of Denver and the area surrounding, there is a park in southeast Denver that bears
Mamie's name, as well as a public library in Broomfield, a suburb of Denver.
As described in multiple biographies, including Upstairs at the White House by J. B.
West, Mamie was unhappy with the idea of John F. Kennedy coming into office
following her husband's term. Despite new First Lady Jackie Kennedy having
given birth to her son John Jr. via caesarean
section two weeks prior, Mamie refused to inform Jackie that there was a wheelchair available for her to use while showing
Mrs. Kennedy the various sections of the White House. Seeing Mamie's displeasure during the tour, Jackie kept her composure while
in Mrs. Eisenhower's presence, finally collapsing in private once the new First Lady returned home. When Mamie Eisenhower was
later questioned as to why she would do such a thing, the former First Lady simply stated, "Because she never asked."
Mamie's million dollar fudge recipe
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Ingredients:
- 4-1/2 cups sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 tall can evaporated milk
- 12 ounces semisweet chocolate bits
- 12 ounces German sweet chocolate
- 1 pint marshmallow cream
- 2 cups chopped nutmeats
Heat the sugar, butter, salt, and evaporated milk over low heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil and boil
for 6 minutes. Put chocolate bits, German chocolate, marshmallow cream, and nutmeats in a bowl. Pour the boiling syrup over the
ingredients. Beat until the chocolate is all melted, then pour in a pan. Let stand for a few hours before cutting. Remember it is
better the second day. Store in a tin box.
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Mamie was not known for her culinary prowess, however, she did earn fame for her fudge, which Ike named and often enjoyed.
This became a staple at the conclusion of formal White House meals and was an inexpensive treat.
Later life
In 1961 the Eisenhowers returned to Gettysburg for eight years of contented retirement together. After her husband's death in
1969, Mamie continued to live on the farm. Mamie Eisenhower died on November 1,
1979, just a few weeks shy of her 83rd birthday. She is buried beside her husband and their son
"Icky" in a small chapel called the Place of Meditation on the grounds of the Eisenhower Library in Abilene, Kansas.
Trivia
References
External link
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