The Presidency

On January 20, 1953, Dwight D. Eisenhower was sworn in as the United States' 34th president, the culmination of a career serving his country that had up until that point, spanned almost four decades. Never having held elected office before, the hero of World War II swept to victory with 55% of the popular vote and 442 electoral college votes. Though inexperienced in US domestic politics, Eisenhower's political skills were evident as the first commander of NATO and the Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force during World War II. Elected to a second term in 1956, the country once again declared that it "liked Ike." This page highlights stories relating to the successes, failures, and unique experiences of Eisenhower's presidency.