Type: documentary
Status: finished
Author: Stephen E. Ambrose
Tags: war new first soviet cold west north red general united korean war, third House, States, Pearl Harbor, Combined Army, Africa, white Beetle Chiefs, Department, Dwight Eisenhower, Office, Oval Point, Sherman Smith, Staff, Union, York,
Description: In "Eisenhower" Geoffrey Perret gives an outstanding biography of a very interestingIn "Eisenhower" Geoffrey Perret gives an outstanding biography of a very interesting and important historical figure. Here we meet Ike from birth to death.
The reader is treated to an introduction to the Eisenhower family, to the father who could never be close to his sons, the mother who had little influence over them and the brothers with whom Ike grew up and continued his mutually supportive relationship through their highly successful careers.
The relationship with Mamie, their lost son, and son John, all reflect Ike's personal strengths and limitations.
Perret does equally well in telling the stories of the junior officer and the commander as well as those of the President and senior statesman.
Eisenhower's evaluations of many of the characters who crossed his path add to the allure of this book. Ike's admiration, followed by his contempt for MacArthur, his dislike of FDR, his lack of respect for Truman and his lack of affection for Nixon, all add to the insight into Ike's times. Omar Bradley, George Marshall, John Foster Dulles, Henry Cabot Lodge and Joseph McCarthy are just a sampling of the world characters who played on Eisenhower's stage.
Perret thoroughly reports each phase of Ike's life in a way as to maintain interest throughout. He comments on Eisenhower's rights and wrongs in a way which provokes thoughts, without seeming to be opinionated. I believe that this is what makes this biography superior so many others....
2006-12-22
