Galambos, Louis

OUR SYNOPSIS: Louis Galambos explores how Dwight D. Eisenhower changed as the United States changed around him over the course of his life and how these changes impacted him as a leader. Galambos locates Eisenhower’s first recognition of his need to change in 1920, when he was held back by army hierarchy and organizational roles. Before this, he turned his education at West Point Military Academy into professional opportunities and a prominent leadership role training recruits for World War I. Galambos tracks how Eisenhower excelled at the Army Command and General Staff School, the Army War College, working directly with renowned World War I General John Pershing, and as Chief of Staff Douglas MacArthur’s assistant. World War II accelerated his career. He was named Allied Supreme Commander in Europe in 1943 and Army Chief of Staff in 1945. Being the definitive American hero of World War II set him up for high political office and he became president in January 1953. Galambos argues, “the two most important aspects of his presidency” are “his effort to lead the nation and the world toward peace, and his closely related effort to provide Americans with a reasonable measure of prosperity.” (200-201) He recognized the importance of economic strength in the Cold War and his economic policies were remarkably successful. He also prioritized national security and demonstrated crucial understanding of the importance of stability in Cold War foreign policy. As president, he gave “the United States eight years of the most effective leadership in foreign relations that the country had received—or would receive—in the twentieth century.” (242)