How Ike Led

 

How Dwight D. Eisenhower led America through a transformational time—by a DC policy strategist, security expert and his granddaughter.

Few people have made decisions as momentous as Eisenhower, nor has one person had to make such a varied range of them. From D-Day to Little Rock, from the Korean War to Cold War crises, from the Red Scare to the Missile Gap controversies, Ike was able to give our country eight years of peace and prosperity by relying on a core set of principles. These were informed by his heritage and upbringing, as well as his strong character and his personal discipline, but he also avoided making himself the center of things. He was a man of judgment, and steadying force. He sought national unity, by pursuing a course he called the "Middle Way" that tried to make winners on both sides of any issue.

Ike was a strategic, not an operational leader, who relied on a rigorous pursuit of the facts for decision-making. His talent for envisioning a whole, especially in the context of the long game, and his ability to see causes and various consequences, explains his success as Allied Commander and as President. After making a decision, he made himself accountable for it, recognizing that personal responsibility is the bedrock of sound principles.

Susan Eisenhower's How Ike Led shows us not just what a great American did, but why—and what we can learn from him today.

My Review

I have a tiny bit of knowledge about Eisenhower. What I do know of him I respected. After reading this book, I have become a true fan. He ruled with a methodical mind set. He analyzed situations and did not let his emotions rule him. 

This may have made people question his decisions at times but it also made him a great ruler. I think like Eisenhower, so I could relate to him. What you also have to respect about Eisenhower is the fact that he was not afraid to admit when he was wrong and take responsibility. 

In today's world that is hard to come by. It is easier for people to lay the blame on other's then to take full responsibility. It is time that we take pages from our history books and apply what great leaders like Eisenhower did to present day. Historical buffs will thoroughly enjoy reading this book. I know I sure did.