Book Thoughts: Eisenhower in War and Peace
2024-01-26
My first book of 2024, Eisenhower in War and Peace by Jean Edward Smith.
One of my favorite biographies. Incredibly well paced and readable.
I think Ike has to be in the top 5 most influential Americans. Some of my contenders, in no particular order:
- Washington <- not becoming a King or Emperor is arguably the most influential thing about the country to date
- Grant <- wins the Civil War, two term president, leader of Reconstruction
- FDR <- 4 term president, New Deal, leads the country through World War II
- Lincoln <- holds the country together during the Civil War
- MLK <- for the Civil Rights Movement and its impacts
Ike obviously belongs in this list. As much as it pains me to say it, I think he's obviously above Lincoln, who is my favorite of the group, but just isn't on the national stage for long enough.
Here's the case for Ike:
- Wins the war in Europe
- Incredibly popular 2 term president
- Repeatedly refuses to use tactical nuclear weapons in early Conflicts, leading to today's norm of not using them
Assorted other stuff I enjoyed from this book:
- Eisenhower had a mistress during his time as the Supreme Allied Commander. Kay Summersby started as his driver and became his companion. The book provides good evidence that when the war was over, Eisenhower cabled Marshall to say he was staying in London with her and divorcing his wife and Marshall said he'd run him out of the Army. Ike then leaves her behind while taking the rest of his staff. The War Department removes her from photos (!) and then Truman destroys the cable to protect Ike (!). And you thought he was boring!
- The planning for invasion of Europe reminds me of ~every major product launch I've ever done. They Allies agree super early on, like 1942 that they must invade Europe via France, no other routes make sense and then spend 2 years doing everything but this while Eisenhower reminds them why they have to do it.
- The book makes a compelling case that Eisenhower prolongs the war and cedes Berlin to the Soviets by ignoring Monty's advice in September of 1944. I'm not enough of a military historian to critique the case, but it was interesting.
- Ike has basically zero command experience before becoming Supreme Allied Commander and was mostly put in as a placeholder for Marshall.
- His most important skill was his ability to drive consensus and still make his own decisions.