Ike’s Prophetic Farewell Address, 1961

National Archives: "President Dwight D. Eisenhower's farewell address, known for its warnings about the growing power of the "military-industrial complex," was nearly two years in the making. This Inside the Vaults video short follows newly discovered papers revealing that Eisenhower was deeply involved in crafting the speech, which was to become one of the most …

In Case D-Day Failed: Eisenhower’s Heroic Letter

In June 1944, General Dwight D. Eisenhower prepared to send 150,000 troops on a treacherous mission across the English Channel to storm the beaches of Normandy, invade France and free the continent from Nazi occupation. He knew the chances of success were not great, but he was determined to see the mission through. Nevertheless, he …

Former President Eisenhower Emphasized Continuity in Reacting to Assassination of JFK, November 22, 1963

Dwight Eisenhower, a Republican, left the presidency in January, 1961 after serving two terms. He did not think particularly highly of his successors, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, but he felt it was extremely important to express his support for the federal government, especially after JFK was assassinated. He spoke with reporters the day …

Profiles of Eisenhower, Conqueror of the Conqueror of Worlds

"No one ever shot at him. He never shot at anyone. His toughest battle? Controlling his temper. His name? Eisenhower." His name means “hewer of steel” in German. Shortly World War II ended, one of his military aides described him as “the conqueror of the conqueror of worlds.” Writer George Spencer's profile of General and …

The Dulles Brothers and Their Secret World War in the 1950s

Nowadays their name is known only as an airport near Washington, DC. Once in the 1950s and early 1960s, they were very famous as architects of America's aggressive cold war policies in Iran, Guatemala, Cuba, Vietnam, and the "Belgium" Congo. John Foster Dulles was Secretary of State under President Eisenhower. His brother Allen Dulles was …

Truman and Eisenhower in the 1950s Developed Chilly Relationship

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bXZb7dTGqQ President Harry Truman in 1945 told the Allied Commander, Gen. Dwight Eusenhower, that he was so impressed by his performance in WW2 that he would help him launch a political career. But then the ambitions of the two men conflicted. Truman was a Democrat and perceived, often unfairly, as an unpopular bumbler. Eisenhower, extraordinarily …

Greatest Recorded Speeches in Modern American History

From 1933 when radio became a mass medium through the early 1960s when television became a mass medium through 2008 when the Internet became a mass medium, powerful speeches have transformed American politics, or have lifted the county's imagination. They do tend to contribute to the "great man theory" of history -- just because a …

Why Didn’t Mao Conquer Taiwan?

History Matters: "In 1949 Mao won the Chinese Civil War and pushed the Koumintang government into exile in Taiwan. But why didn't he finish the job and Conquer the island, reunifying China in the process? Find out in this short and simple animated documentary." Bottom line: China may have felt the US was acting imperialistically …

Leaders’ Historical Reputations Wax and Wane. Images Fluctuate

As Donald Trump's presidency comes to an end, it's important to remember that leaders' popularity and historical reputations tend to shift over time. Here's an overview of how that has happened to previous leaders: Presidents once considered heroes of the Democratic Party -- Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson -- have been removed from their symbolic …

Americans Close Ranks: Adlai Stevenson in 1952 Conceded to Dwight Eisenhower

"We vote as many, but we pray as one" America, Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson observed in his 1952 concession speech after losing in a landslide to General Dwight Eisenhower. He noted that Americans' long tradition is to fight hard for their beliefs in an election, and then afterwards, acknowledge the results and close ranks in …