What were some of the events that led Eisenhower to such a position of greatness?

Answer 1

DDE possessed a keen mind for leadership, and although his grades were not proof of that (from West Point), by the time he graduated, he was still in the top half of his class, in 1915.

Working as XO for general Fox Conner in the Panama Canal Zone in the early 20s, he was led to study history, military science, and philosophy, and he blossomed.

Graduating first in his class from general staff school in 1926, he eventually worked under general John (Black Jack) Pershing, and gained status before returning to the War Department where he developed strategies for the second world war (that we knew would come). Eventually, Ike became Cheif of Staff for Douglas MacArthur in the Philippines, until 1942.

In 1942, Ike's special assignment was to build cooperation with the allied powers - in 1943 successfully routing Germany in North Africa (thanks in no small part to Gen. George Patton). Then came the campaigns in Sicily and Italy before planning D-Day. The British coup of "The Man Who Never Was" helped divert German assets away from the eventual landing points at Normandy, while Ike shipped Patton off to Greece (after the slapping incident).

When the opportunity arose in 1944, Patton was brought back to lead Third Army on its historic end run across southern France that hastened the war's end.

Meanwhile, Ike, ever the (over-smoking) statesman, took his post war five stars to the joint chiefs of staff. He was also the first supreme commander of NATO, but resigned his commission to run for President in 1952.

The post war economy made Ike look even more great than perhaps he was, and he was re-elected by a wider margin in 1956.

The U-2 incident dimmed his international star a bit, but it let everyone know Ike wasn't going to let the USSR become another Nazi Germany ... not on his watch.

Ike stayed out of Viet Nam, but he also knew of the terrible dangers of the "Military Industrial Complex" which pressured him, warning in his farewell speech about the "MIC", which may have been his last great perception.

Oh, and under Ike's watch, we got the interstate highway system, NASA, and statehood for Alaska and Hawaii.

Answer 2

1. U.S. and North Korea Sign Armistice, July 27, 1953

The Korean War ceased when an armistice was signed between the U.S. and North Korea. It established the 38th Parallel as the border between North Korea and South Korea. It also created the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) as a buffer zone between the two countries.

2. Joseph McCarthy's Senate Permanent Subcommittee On Investigations, 1953-1954

Senator Joseph McCarty conducted hearings to investigate communism in the government. At first, he enjoyed public approval while denouncing numerous government officials. However, when McCarthy investigated the Army, his public approval ratings dropped because the dispute was aired on television and the public witnessed his frequent accusations, harsh methods, and persona for the first time. McCarthy's reputation never recovered after the Army hearings.

3. Brown v. Board of Education, 1954

Oliver Brown and other parents tried to enroll their children in schools for whites, but they were turned down. They filed a lawsuit against the Topeka Board of Education. The case was turned down at the state level, but then appealed to the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court declared that separating public schools for blacks and whites was unconstitutional. This overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision in 1896. The Brown v. Board of Education decision helped begin the Civil Rights Movement.

4. Montgomery Bus Boycott, December 5, 1955

Martin Luther King, Jr. began the year-long boycott on this day. It eventually led the Alabama Supreme Court to stop segregation in public transportation. The boycott encouraged people to walk or carpool. As a result, the local bus company almost became bankrupt because most of its customers were black.

5. Sputnik, October 4, 1957

The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite orbiting Earth, into space. This initiated the Space Race between the Soviet Union and the United States. New technological and scientific discoveries stemmed from the Space Race.

5. U-2 Incident, May 1, 1960

A United States U-2 spy plane was shot down in Soviet Union airspace territory. At first, the U.S. denied having anything to do with the aircraft, but later admitted to the spy plane when the Soviet Union showed the aircraft and pilot remains as proof. This incident marked a deterioration in relationship between the U.S. and Soviet Union.