Eisenhower: President and General

Fascinating People Fascinating Places

Daniel Mainwaring

Documentary, Society & Culture:documentary, Society & Culture, History

5 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 9 March 2023

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

By June 1944, the winds of war had changed. The German High Command was bracing for an invasion of mainland Europe by a liberating multi-national force. Kansas native, Dwight D Eisenhower was the Supreme Allied Commander of Operation Neptune (D-Day). The successful operation was a turning point in the war, and in Eisenhower’s life. Less than a decade later he made the switch from civilian to military leadership when he was sworn in as the 34th President of the United States. In this episode I speak with two experts on Eisenhower’s life and legacy. Dawn Hammatt is the Director at Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene, KS. The campus includes a vast repository of documents and artifacts, including the table he used while planning D-Day. Professor Benjamin P Greene (PhD Stanford) teaches history at Bowling Green University in Ohio. He is also the author of Science Advice, and the Nuclear Test-Ban Debate, 1945-1963 With special thanks to Samantha Prior of the Dwight D Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood home. Sounds: Pixabay Audio: Eisenhower D-day speech, final speech in office both public domain

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0:00.0	By June, 1944, after 5 years of fighting, the winds of war had changed.
0:13.4	The German high command were bracing themselves for the invasion of a liberating Allied force on mainland
0:20.3	Europe.
0:21.3	The man responsible for Operation Neptune, now better known as D-Day, was Kansas native Dwight Eisenhower.
0:30.0	On the 5th of June, he distributed orders to his troops.
0:35.0	Soldiers, sailors and airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force.
0:40.0	You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade toward which we have striven these many months.
0:46.0	The eyes of the world are upon you.
0:48.0	The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.
0:52.0	D-D-D-D-. D-Day proved to be not just a turning point
0:56.7	in World War II but also a pivotal moment in the life and career of Dwight Eisenhower, who is regarded as one of America's greatest
1:05.9	military heroes and the most popular presidents.
1:10.7	In this episode, I explore the life of Eisenhower, his transition from military leader to President, and his enduring legacy.
1:20.0	Eisenhower's meticulous planning also included preparations for the possibility
1:28.8	that Operation Neptune could fail. He wrote a message titled, In Case of Failure, which was to be
1:36.2	broadcast if the invasion proved unsuccessful. In the message he absolved his troops of any responsibility and said the failure had it come to pass was entirely his.
1:49.0	The original handwritten note thankfully was unneeded, but it survives today, and it may surprise you to learn
1:57.3	that it's situated along the I-70 corridor, often referred to as flyover country that mainly consists of farmland and fills the
2:06.7	540 mile expanse between Topeka, Kansas and Denver, Colorado.
2:13.2	The reason it's housed there, specifically in the historic town of Abilene, is that while
2:18.5	Eisenhower was born in Texas, from the age of two he called Abilene Kansas home. The city now hosts a campus that includes his
2:27.0	childhood home, his tomb, the Eisenhower Presidential Library and a Museum.
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