Strength in Unity is a phrase taken from Eisenhower's first inaugural speech. It represents how important NATO was to him.
The interesting thing about Ike's presidency was he usually knew what decision he was going to make before the beginning of any meeting. He gave his opinion right away, and let the cabinet members, NSA members and Joint Chiefs hash it out. He would listen carefully while sketching tea cups and saucers, or the faces of the people in the room. He didn't lose his temper often. If he became angry he would darkly outline the doodles. One time he said, "Are you people crazy. Do you want to bomb Vietnam less than ten years after we bombed other Asian peoples?"
This book covers 1945 to his first inauguration. Another much larger book will cover his presidency, retirement and death.
In 1945 he was head of the American Occupation Zone in Germany. This book discusses the de-Nazification program and the guilt of the Nazis. When General Lucius Clay took over Eisenhower came back to the U. S. to represent the soldiers who had fought in the European Theater.
At this point he wanted to retire but had to follow the orders of his Commander-in-Chief. He became Chief of Staff for two years. Marshall was to take over at that time. Before Marshall took over Ike, at the request of Truman, asked Marshall to become secretary of state in 1947.
When the president of Columbia became ill, Eisenhower was asked to take the job. Columbia wanted a man of distinction, not an educator like his brother, Milton. At this time Ike was asked to write a book about the war from his own perspective. He was paid enough to make him a rich man in 1948. The book sold in the millions and will always be referred to by historians.
He took up painting at Columbia, tried to join both halves of the campus together, gave a scholarly speech, gave lectures on World War II, and balanced the budget.
In 1948 he was asked to spend a lot of time in Washington. This wore on him and in 1949 he collapsed due to a stomach illness that he had had for years. His wife's doctor helped with the problem and he gave up smoking--cold turkey--took metamucil and changed his diet.
He was still a five star general so he obeyed his Commander-in-Chief and became Supreme Commander of NATO. He was able to convince several nations to join NATO. He was afraid that the Communists would try to take over western nations.
He was asked by the Republicans to run for the presidency. He refused, saying that he couldn't give up the important job he had now. But when he discovered that the likely Republican candidate, Robert Taft, was a nationalist--an isolationist, he began to see that he would have to run. And it was just in time. Taft, had begun to win in the South and in the middle of the country.
He ran, promising to end the Korean war. Once president he did.
People were afraid he would be a golf playing president and the tool of the Republicans. They were wrong.
He asked a group of trusted men to pick his cabinet. He had already selected John Foster Dulles as secretary of state, Walter B. Smith as his under secretary of state, Jim Hagerty as his press secretary, Joseph M. Dodge as the liaison with the government before the transition and chief of staff Sherman Adams. He would upgrade the National Security Council. People were criticizing him for over organizing the White House.
The Inaugural Address touched more on foreign policy than on domestic policy. Conservatives feared he was too liberal. He didn't mention the New Deal or the need for tax cuts as Taft had wanted him to. He knew he had to get along with Taft, the leader of the Republican party.
