The Eisenhower Dispatch

About This Blog

Welcome to the Eisenhower Dispatch, the Blog of the Eisenhower National Historic Site! Posts on this blog are researched, developed, and written primarily by the staff at the Eisenhower National Historic Site as well as by park interns and guests. The purpose of this blog is to highlight stories of Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower, their families, and their era, and to tell stories pertaining to their home and farm near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. We will also use this page to discuss interpretive and education program opportunities, provide resources for teachers and students, share stories about items in the park's museum collection, and highlight the work and service of our volunteer staff. The National Park Service is dedicated to protecting our natural and cultural resources and providing visitors with a full experience in appreciating our nation’s past, both on site and online. We hope you enjoy our blog.

A Day When Everything Changed- Dwight Eisenhower and the Attack on Pearl Harbor

December 07, 2020 Posted by: Daniel Vermilya

On December 7, 1941, Dwight Eisenhower was a fifty-one-year-old Bvt. Brigadier General at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. The events of that day would forever change both Eisenhower’s life and the course of world history.

 

A Family of Service

March 19, 2021 Posted by: Daniel Vermilya

Robert and Dorothy McCormick both served in the United States Navy during WWII. Their family’s story reminds us of the many ways we can serve others and of the many ways in which history connects us all.

 

January 20: The Beginning and the End: Ike's First and Last Inaugurations

January 12, 2021 Posted by: John Joyce (Retired)

January 20 was a memorable date in Dwight Eisenhower's life.

January 20, 1953 was the date Ike's presidency officially began - the date of his first inauguration. January 20, 1961 was also the date of President Kennedy's inauguration – and Ike's very last day as president. 

 

"A Cold and Frosty Affair:" Ike and Truman's Strained Relationship on Inauguration Day, 1953

January 05, 2021 Posted by: Daniel Vermilya

It is a routine yet special occurrence in American history—one political leader handing over the most powerful office in the land—the Presidency of the United States—to another. In some cases, this transfer is done amongst friends and political allies. In others, it is amongst political rivals. On January 20, 1953, such a transfer of power occurred, when President Harry Truman passed the torch of leadership to incoming President Dwight D. Eisenhower. These two men were giant

 

A Season of Hardship and Struggle: Eisenhower's World War II Christmases

December 23, 2020 Posted by: Bryce Johnston

For soldiers, especially during wartime, Holiday joy and the comfort of hearth and home are often a very far cry away. This was true as well for General Dwight Eisenhower who experienced several Christmases away from his loving wife and son during the great conflict of World War II. However, there were still glimpses of normalcy and holiday cheer that pushed their way through to the fighting men even during the bloody acts of war.

 

Dwight Eisenhower and the Battle of the Bulge

December 17, 2020 Posted by: Daniel Vermilya

The Battle of the Bulge stands as one of the great contests of the Second World War. Eisenhower and his commanders had been ill prepared for the German counteroffensive, losing significant ground in the battle’s early days. While the Americans had ultimately regained their lost positions, it came at a steep cost. Over 105,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, captured, or missing, equating to roughly one out of every ten American casualties for the entire war.

 

Last updated: December 2, 2020

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