Light

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Definition

Dwight D. Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States from 1953 to 1961, but before that, he was a five-star general in the U.S. Army during World War II and served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe.

Analogy

Think of Eisenhower like a football team's head coach who later becomes the league commissioner. He first led his team (the Allies) to victory in an important game (World War II), then moved up to oversee the entire league (the country).

Related terms

Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force: This is a title held by General Eisenhower during WWII, which made him responsible for planning and executing invasions of North Africa, Italy, and France.

Eisenhower Doctrine: A policy enunciated by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1957, under which the United States pledged economic and military aid to any Middle Eastern country threatened by communism.

D-Day Invasion: The day on June 6, 1944, when allied forces invaded France via Normandy; it was one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history and marked a turning point in World War II.