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137-549: The library was built with private funds raised by the Harry S. Truman Library Inc., with Truman himself contributing greatly to the fundraising effort by "attending dinners, making speeches around the country, and writing thousands of letters". Built on a hill overlooking the Kansas City skyline, on land donated by the City of Independence, it was dedicated July 6, 1957. The ceremony included

274-531: A containment policy to stop Soviet expansion. In June 1943, a visiting politician had suggested to Eisenhower that he might become president after the war. Believing that a general should not participate in politics, Merlo J. Pusey wrote that "figuratively speaking, [Eisenhower] kicked his political-minded visitor out of his office". As others asked him about his political future, Eisenhower told one that he could not imagine wanting to be considered for any political job "from dogcatcher to Grand High Supreme King of

411-598: A very bloody large-scale battle , and the Germans finally surrendered on May 7, 1945. Throughout 1945, the allied armies liberated numerous Nazi concentration camps throughout Europe. As the allies learned the full extend of the Holocaust , Eisenhower anticipated that, in the future, attempts to recharacterize Nazi crimes as propaganda ( Holocaust denial ) would be made, and took steps against it by demanding extensive photo and film documentation of Nazi death camps . Following

548-629: A basic golf facility installed at Camp David, and he became close friends with the Augusta National Chairman Clifford Roberts , inviting Roberts to stay at the White House on numerous occasions. Roberts, an investment broker, also handled the Eisenhower family's investments. He began oil painting while at Columbia University, after watching Thomas E. Stephens paint Mamie's portrait. Eisenhower painted about 260 oils during

685-528: A bend in the Missouri River that defines a border between Wyandotte County, Kansas , and Clay County, Missouri , running approximately north–south and a border between North Kansas City, Missouri , and Kansas City, Missouri , running approximately east–west. The river bend's sharpest part forms a peninsula containing the Kansas City Downtown Airport . Downtown Kansas City, Missouri has

822-835: A broken-down Tin Lizzie , loaded with paint, has been driven over it". Angels in the Outfield was Eisenhower's favorite movie. His favorite reading material for relaxation was the Western novels of Zane Grey . With his excellent memory and ability to focus, Eisenhower was skilled at cards. He learned poker, which he called his "favorite indoor sport", in Abilene. Eisenhower recorded West Point classmates' poker losses for payment after graduation and later stopped playing because his opponents resented having to pay him. A friend reported that after learning to play contract bridge at West Point, Eisenhower played

959-464: A camp for thousands of troops and developing a full combat training schedule. After the war, Eisenhower reverted to his regular rank of captain and a few days later was promoted to major , a rank he held for 16 years. The major was assigned in 1919 to a transcontinental Army convoy to test vehicles and dramatize the need for improved roads. Indeed, the convoy averaged only 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h) from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco; later

1096-453: A favorite of museum visitors, the office was viewed through a window from the library's courtyard. The pavilion will also allow for an interpretive exhibit describing the office. Funeral services for Truman were held in the Library auditorium and burial was in the courtyard. His wife, Bess Truman , was buried at his side in 1982. Their daughter, Margaret Truman Daniel , was a longtime member of

1233-515: A film about Truman's life. The library's replica of the Oval Office is a feature that has been copied by the Johnson , Ford , Carter , Reagan , George H. W. Bush , Clinton , and George W. Bush libraries. In an educational program called The White House Decision Center , school students take on the roles of President Truman and his advisors facing real-life historical decisions in a recreation of

1370-534: A gain of 5,200 jobs in the Kansas portion of the metro area. In 2015, the metropolitan area accounted for 40.9% of the total GDP in the state of Kansas and 22.7% of the total GDP in the state of Missouri. The Kansas City metropolitan area has more freeway lane miles per capita than any other large metropolitan area in the United States. This is 27% more than the second-place Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex , 50% more than

1507-640: A life-threatening stomach ailment but recovered fully. Eisenhower was promoted to the rank of permanent lieutenant colonel in 1936. He also learned to fly with the Philippine Army Air Corps at the Zablan Airfield in Camp Murphy under Capt. Jesus Villamor , making a solo flight over the Philippines in 1937, and obtained his private pilot's license in 1939 at Fort Lewis . Also around this time, he

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1644-478: A man's character by the way he plays cards. Eisenhower is a calm and collected player and never whines at his losses. He is brilliant in victory but never commits the bridge player's worst crime of gloating when he wins." Bridge expert Oswald Jacoby frequently participated in the White House games and said, "The President plays better bridge than golf. He tries to break 90 at golf. At bridge, you would say he plays in

1781-473: A military mistake for him to attack Berlin and said orders to that effect would have to be explicit. The British backed down but then wanted Eisenhower to move into Czechoslovakia for political reasons. Washington refused to support Churchill's plan to use Eisenhower's army for political maneuvers against Moscow . The actual division of Germany followed the lines that Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin had previously agreed upon. The Soviet Red Army captured Berlin in

1918-504: A non-profit corporation made up of private sector stakeholders and city appointees. A ballot initiative to fund construction of the $ 102 million line was approved by voters on December 12, 2012. The system runs between River Market and Union Station, mostly along Main Street, with extensions north and south under consideration. There are no commuter rail services. Intercity bus service is provided by Greyhound Lines and Jefferson Lines at

2055-555: A pessimistic assessment, stating he had an "uneasy feeling" about Chaney and his staff. On June 23, 1942, he returned to London as Commanding General, European Theater of Operations (ETOUSA), based in London and with a house in Coombe, Kingston upon Thames , and took over command of ETOUSA from Chaney. He was promoted to lieutenant general on July 7. In November 1942, Eisenhower was also appointed Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force of

2192-692: A population of 25,204. Downtown is Kansas City's historic center, located entirely within Kansas City, Missouri, and contains the city's original town site, business districts, and residential neighborhoods. Downtown is bounded by the Missouri River on the north, the Missouri-Kansas state line on the west, 31st Street on the south and Woodland Avenue on the east. The downtown area includes the Central Business District and its buildings, which form

2329-469: A railroad mechanic and then at a creamery. By 1898, the parents made a decent living and provided a suitable home for their large family. Eisenhower was born David Dwight Eisenhower in Denison, Texas, on October 14, 1890, the third of seven sons born to Ida and David. His mother soon reversed his two forenames after his birth to avoid the confusion of having two Davids in the family. He was named Dwight after

2466-596: A total area of 9,220 sq mi (23,900 km ) including 103 sq mi (270 km ) of water. The Kansas City metro area is a swing metro area, going between the Republican and Democratic parties for decades and voting for Democratic and Republican presidential candidates equally since 2000. It is unlike most other large cities in the United States; most populous metropolitan areas lean Democratic, which makes Kansas City slightly Republican as compared to metros of similar size, even as compared to St. Louis , which

2603-576: A unit that trained tank crews. Between the wars he served in staff positions in the US and the Philippines, reaching the rank of brigadier general shortly before the entry of the US into World War II in 1941. After further promotion Eisenhower oversaw the Allied invasions of North Africa and Sicily before supervising the invasions of France and Germany . After the war ended in Europe, he served as military governor of

2740-408: A voracious reader on the subject. Other favorite subjects early in his education were arithmetic and spelling. Eisenhower's parents set aside specific times at breakfast and at dinner for daily family Bible reading. Chores were regularly assigned and rotated among all the children, and misbehavior was met with unequivocal discipline, usually from David. His mother, previously a member (with David) of

2877-482: Is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri . Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With 8,472 square miles (21,940 km ) and a population of more than 2.2 million people, it is the second-largest metropolitan area centered in Missouri (after Greater St. Louis ) and is the largest metropolitan area in Kansas, though Wichita

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3014-461: Is also centered in Missouri . As of 2019 , Missouri accounted for 56% of employment and Kansas accounted for 44% of employment. From 2018 to 2019 Kansas added 13,000 jobs and Missouri added 6,500 jobs. Kansas side employment grew by 2.7% and Missouri side employment grew by 1.1%; job growth in Kansas was more than double that in Missouri. Professional and business employment growth was due entirely to

3151-812: Is centered at Kansas City, Missouri's Union Station and managed by the Kansas City Terminal. Daily long-distance services are Missouri River Runner with two round trips daily to Saint Louis, connecting to Chicago via the Lincoln Service ; and Southwest Chief with daily service between Chicago and Los Angeles . City buses operated by the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) provide most public transportation. The Metro Area Express (MAX) became Kansas City, Missouri's first bus rapid transit line in July 2005, and operates and

3288-475: Is generally implied if 'North' is not specified, except for numbered 'avenues' in North Kansas City. In the northland, east–west streets use the prefix N.E. or N.W., depending on the side of N. Main on which they lie. The metro has several airports. Primary service is at Kansas City International Airport (MCI), 15 miles northwest of downtown Kansas City, Missouri. It was opened in 1972 as TWA's "Airport of

3425-460: Is governed by a single unified government. Another bend in the Missouri River forms the county line between Wyandotte County, Kansas , and Platte County, Missouri , to the north and northeast. The map's northeast quadrant is referred to as the Northland. It includes parts of Clay County, Missouri , including North Kansas City, Missouri and Parkville, Missouri . North Kansas City is bounded by

3562-601: Is home to Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City and Research Medical Center . Cultural attractions include the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art , Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art , Uptown Theater , Starlight Theater , the Kansas City Zoo , Loose Park , and Swope Park . The last of these has a soccer complex that is home to the Swope Park Rangers , a USL Championship team that is the official reserve side for

3699-675: Is marketed akin to a rail system instead of a local bus line. The MAX links River Market, Downtown, Union Station, Crown Center, and Country Club Plaza. Buses in Johnson County, Kansas, are operated by Johnson County Transit , known as The JO. The KC Streetcar is a 2.2-mile modern streetcar line in Downtown Kansas City . Opened to the public in May 2016, it is maintained and operated by the Kansas City Streetcar Authority ,

3836-471: Is named, married Richard Nixon 's daughter Julie in 1968. Eisenhower was a golf enthusiast later in life, and he joined the Augusta National Golf Club in 1948. He played golf frequently during and after his presidency and was unreserved in his passion for the game, to the point of golfing during winter; he ordered his golf balls painted black so he could see them better against snow. He had

3973-465: Is the area north of the Missouri River, bordered by the Kansas state line on the west. The southern half of Platte County , and much of Clay County make up the area. The Northland is a fast-growing, primarily suburban region of the metropolitan area, although much of it is contained within the city limits of Kansas City, Missouri . The economy of the Northland is dominated by Cerner , Kansas City International Airport , Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant ,

4110-581: Is the fastest growing county by total population. Municipalities include Overland Park , Olathe , Shawnee , Leawood , Lenexa , Prairie Village , Gardner , Merriam , Mission , Roeland Park , Fairway , Lake Quivira , Mission Hills , Mission Woods , Westwood , and Westwood Hills . Corporate headquarters include Garmin , Black & Veatch , and AMC Theatres , and the secondary headquarters of T-Mobile . Many local area attractions and shopping districts are in Johnson County, such as Oak Park Mall , Town Center Plaza , and Prairie Fire. The Northland

4247-644: Is the largest metropolitan area centered in Kansas. Alongside Kansas City, Missouri, these are the suburbs with populations above 100,000: Overland Park, Kansas ; Kansas City, Kansas ; Olathe, Kansas ; Independence, Missouri ; and Lee's Summit, Missouri . Business enterprises and employers include Cerner Corporation (the largest, with almost 10,000 local employees and about 20,000 global employees), AT&T , BNSF Railway , GEICO , Asurion , T-Mobile (formerly Sprint ), Black & Veatch , AMC Theatres , Citigroup , Garmin , Hallmark Cards , Waddell & Reed , H&R Block , General Motors , Honeywell ,

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4384-679: Is the second longest runway in the region next to those at Kansas City International Airport. It is 7 miles (11 km) from the Logistics Park Kansas City Intermodal Facility. Johnson County Executive Airport has one runway on 500 acres and is the fourth-busiest towered airport in the state of Kansas. Kansas City is a freight hub served by the BNSF , CPKC , Norfolk Southern , and Union Pacific . Kansas City Terminal Railway and Kaw River Railroad provide local interchange and switching service. Amtrak Passenger service

4521-605: The Allied forces 2 to 1. In December 1943, President Roosevelt decided that Eisenhower – not Marshall – would be Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. The following month, he resumed command of ETOUSA and the following month was officially designated as the Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF), serving in a dual role until the end of hostilities in Europe in May 1945. He

4658-850: The American Jazz Museum , the Kansas City Symphony , Kansas City Union Station , the National World War I Museum , the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art , the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art , Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts , the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame , Negro Leagues Baseball Museum , Arabia Steamboat Museum , Uptown Theater , Midland Theatre , the Kansas City Zoo , Swope Park (featuring Starlight Theater ), Sandstone Amphitheater ,

4795-582: The American-occupied zone of Germany (1945), Army Chief of Staff (1945–1948), president of Columbia University (1948–1953), and as the first supreme commander of NATO (1951–1952). In 1952, Eisenhower entered the presidential race as a Republican to block the isolationist foreign policies of Senator Robert A. Taft , who opposed NATO . Eisenhower won that year's election and the 1956 election in landslides , both times defeating Adlai Stevenson II . Eisenhower's main goals in office were to contain

4932-777: The Army Industrial College in 1933 and later served on the faculty (it was later expanded to become the Industrial College of the Armed Services and is now known as the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy). His primary duty was planning for the next war, which proved most difficult in the midst of the Great Depression . He then was posted as chief military aide to General Douglas MacArthur, Army Chief of Staff. In 1932, he participated in

5069-688: The Civil Rights Act of 1957 and sent Army troops to enforce federal court orders which integrated schools in Little Rock, Arkansas . His administration undertook the development and construction of the Interstate Highway System , which remains the largest construction of roadways in American history. In 1957, following the Soviet launch of Sputnik , Eisenhower led the American response which included

5206-527: The Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth , Kansas, where he graduated first in a class of 245 officers. During the late 1920s and early 1930s, Eisenhower's career stalled somewhat, as military priorities diminished; many of his friends resigned for high-paying business jobs. He was assigned to the American Battle Monuments Commission directed by General Pershing, and with

5343-671: The Fairfax Industrial District , and the Village West entertainment district. The General Motors Fairfax Assembly Plant is in the Fairfax Industrial District. Village West contains many area attractions. This includes many sporting venues such as Children's Mercy Park , home of the area MLS soccer team Sporting Kansas City , the Kansas Speedway , which hosts many NASCAR races, and Field of Legends , home of

5480-537: The Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant , The Kansas City Star , Bayer , Children's Mercy Hospital , Truman Medical Center-Hospital Hill , and Andrews McMeel Universal (representing Garfield , Calvin and Hobbes , and Doonesbury ). Shopping centers include City Market , Crown Center , Country Club Plaza , Independence Center , Legends Outlets Kansas City , Oak Park Mall , Ward Parkway Center , and Zona Rosa . Cultural attractions include

5617-500: The French armed forces . The Allied leaders were "thunderstruck" by this from a political standpoint, though none had offered Eisenhower guidance with the problem in planning the operation. Eisenhower was severely criticized for the move. Darlan was assassinated on December 24 by Fernand Bonnier de La Chapelle , a French antifascist monarchist. Eisenhower later appointed as High Commissioner General Henri Giraud , who had been installed by

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5754-579: The Geneva Convention . Eisenhower followed the orders laid down by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in directive JCS 1067 but softened them by bringing in 400,000 tons of food for civilians and allowing more fraternization . In response to the devastation in Germany, including food shortages and an influx of refugees, he arranged distribution of American food and medical equipment. His actions reflected

5891-631: The Grandview Triangle . The southwest quadrant includes all of Johnson County, Kansas , which includes the towns in the area known as Shawnee Mission, Kansas . Interstate 35 runs diagonally through Johnson County, Kansas , from the southwest to Downtown Kansas City, Missouri . The northwest quadrant contains Wyandotte , and Leavenworth , counties in Kansas and parts of Platte County, Missouri . Wyandotte County, Kansas (sometimes referred to as just Wyandotte ), contains Kansas City, Kansas ; Bonner Springs, Kansas ; and Edwardsville, Kansas ; it

6028-475: The Harry S. Truman Historic District ; and the neighborhoods of Westport , 18th and Vine , and Pendleton Heights . Historic cultural origins include KC styles of jazz , vaudeville theater , barbecue , and steak . The larger Kansas City metropolitan area can be visualized as a map with roughly four quadrants: The southeast quadrant includes Kansas City, Missouri , and surrounding areas in Missouri. It includes

6165-670: The Italian leader , had fallen in Italy, the Allies switched their attention to the mainland with Operation Avalanche . But while Eisenhower argued with President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Churchill, who both insisted on unconditional surrender in exchange for helping the Italians, the Germans pursued an aggressive buildup of forces in the country. The Germans made the already tough battle more difficult by adding 19 divisions and initially outnumbering

6302-684: The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor , Eisenhower was assigned to the General Staff in Washington , where he served until June 1942 with responsibility for creating the major war plans to defeat Japan and Germany. He was appointed Deputy Chief in charge of Pacific Defenses under the Chief of War Plans Division (WPD), General Leonard T. Gerow , and then succeeded Gerow as Chief of the War Plans Division. Next, he

6439-641: The Kansas City Bus Station . The architecture of Kansas City, Missouri , and the metropolitan area includes major works by many of the world's most distinguished architects and firms, including McKim, Mead and White ; Jarvis Hunt ; Wight and Wight ; Graham, Anderson, Probst and White ; Hoit, Price & Barnes ; Frank Lloyd Wright ; the Office of Mies van der Rohe ; Barry Byrne ; Edward Larrabee Barnes ; Harry Weese ; and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill . Top 5 largest colleges by total enrollment (within

6576-848: The Kansas City Renaissance Festival , Worlds of Fun , Oceans of Fun , the College Basketball Experience and several casinos. Major league sports franchises include the NFL 's Kansas City Chiefs , the MLB 's Kansas City Royals , and the MLS's Sporting Kansas City . The Kansas Speedway is owned by NASCAR . Historic features include the confluence of the eastern endpoints of the California , Santa Fe , and Oregon Trails in Independence;

6713-500: The Masonic Rites of Dedication and attendance by former President Herbert Hoover (then the only living former president other than President Truman), Chief Justice Earl Warren , and former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt . Here, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Medicare Act on July 30, 1965. The museum has been victimized by significant burglaries twice. John Wesley Snyder , Truman's Treasury Secretary and close friend, donated his personal collection of 450 rare coins to

6850-429: The Metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) of Kansas City MO-KS, the St. Joseph metropolitan area and the Lawrence, Kansas metropolitan area with the Micropolitan Statistical Areas (μSA) of Warrensburg, Missouri , Atchison, Kansas , and Ottawa, Kansas . (Warrensburg is in Johnson County, Missouri . Atchison is in Atchison County, Kansas . Ottawa is in Franklin County, Kansas .) The combined statistical area covers

6987-407: The NFL 's Kansas City Chiefs and Kauffman Stadium , home of the MLB 's Kansas City Royals are on the eastern edge of Kansas City. The Cable Dahmer Arena home of the ECHL 's Kansas City Mavericks and the MASL 's Kansas City Comets is in Independence. Johnson County, Kansas contains many municipalities with a population of 609,863. It has the largest economy in the metropolitan area and

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7124-480: The North African Theater of Operations (NATOUSA) through the new operational Headquarters Allied (Expeditionary) Force Headquarters (A(E)FHQ). The word "expeditionary" was dropped soon after his appointment for security reasons. The campaign in North Africa was designated Operation Torch and was planned in the underground headquarters within the Rock of Gibraltar . Eisenhower was the first non-British person to command Gibraltar in 200 years. French cooperation

7261-488: The Panama Canal Zone , where, joined by Mamie, he served until 1924. Under Conner's tutelage, he studied military history and theory (including Carl von Clausewitz 's On War ), and later cited Conner's enormous influence on his military thinking, saying in 1962 that "Fox Conner was the ablest man I ever knew." Conner's comment on Eisenhower was, "[He] is one of the most capable, efficient and loyal officers I have ever met." On Conner's recommendation, in 1925–1926 he attended

7398-463: The River Brethren ( Brethren in Christ Church ) sect of the Mennonites , joined the International Bible Students Association , later known as Jehovah's Witnesses . The Eisenhower home served as the local meeting hall from 1896 to 1915, though Dwight never joined. His later decision to attend West Point saddened his mother, who felt that warfare was "rather wicked", but she did not overrule his decision. Speaking of himself in 1948, Eisenhower said he

7535-406: The Suez Crisis of 1956, he condemned the Israeli, British, and French invasion of Egypt, and he forced them to withdraw. He also condemned the Soviet invasion during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 but took no action. He deployed 15,000 soldiers during the 1958 Lebanon crisis . Near the end of his term, a summit meeting with the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev was cancelled when a US spy plane

7672-427: The Zona Rosa shopping community and three riverboat casinos. The metro area's largest amusement park, Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun , is in the Northland. Major educational institutions in the Northland include Park University , William Jewell College , and the Maple Woods campus of Metropolitan Community College . The Northland is also home to the popular recreational reservoir, Smithville Lake . Communities of

7809-618: The creation of NASA and the establishment of a stronger, science-based education via the National Defense Education Act . The Soviet Union began to reinforce their own space program , escalating the Space Race . His two terms saw unprecedented economic prosperity except for a minor recession in 1958 . In his farewell address , he expressed his concerns about the dangers of massive military spending , particularly deficit spending and government contracts to private military manufacturers, which he dubbed "the military–industrial complex ". Historical evaluations of his presidency place him among

7946-401: The upper tier of American presidents . The Eisenhauer (German for "iron hewer" or "iron miner") family migrated from the German village of Karlsbrunn to the Province of Pennsylvania in 1741. Accounts vary as to how and when the German name Eisenhauer was anglicized . David Jacob Eisenhower, Eisenhower's father, was a college-educated engineer, despite his own father's urging to stay on

8083-434: The 18th & Vine District. North of the loop are City Market within the River Market and Richard L. Berkeley Riverfront Park. West of the loop within the West Bottoms are Hy-Vee Arena and Hale Arena . Midtown/Plaza is entirely within Kansas City, Missouri with a population of 40,355. It is just south of downtown, and bounded by 31st Street on the north, the state line on the west, West Gregory Boulevard (71st Street) on

8220-447: The 70s." Eisenhower served initially in logistics and then the infantry at various camps in Texas and Georgia until 1918. When the US entered World War I , he immediately requested an overseas assignment but was denied and assigned to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas . In February 1918, he was transferred to Camp Meade in Maryland with the 65th Engineers . His unit was later ordered to France, but, to his chagrin, he received orders for

8357-404: The AFHQ to the SHAEF. Many thought that victory in Europe would come by summer's end, but the Germans did not capitulate for almost a year. From then until the end of the war in Europe on May 8, 1945, Eisenhower, through SHAEF, commanded all Allied forces, and through his command of ETOUSA had administrative command of all US forces on the Western Front north of the Alps . He was ever mindful of

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8494-735: The Allied command, on December 20, 1944, he was promoted to General of the Army , equivalent to the rank of Field Marshal in most European armies. In this and the previous high commands he held, Eisenhower showed his great talents for leadership and diplomacy. Although he had never seen action himself, he won the respect of front-line commanders. He interacted adeptly with allies such as Winston Churchill , Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and General Charles de Gaulle . He had serious disagreements with Churchill and Montgomery over questions of strategy, but these rarely upset his relationships with them. He dealt with Soviet Marshal Zhukov , his Russian counterpart, and they became good friends. In December 1944,

8631-549: The Allies as Darlan's commander-in-chief. Operation Torch also served as a valuable training ground for Eisenhower's combat command skills; during the initial phase of Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel 's move into the Kasserine Pass , Eisenhower created some confusion in the ranks by interference with the execution of battle plans by his subordinates. He also was initially indecisive in his removal of Lloyd Fredendall , commanding II Corps . He became more adroit in such matters in later campaigns. In February 1943, his authority

8768-538: The Central Business District inside the downtown loop. The T-Mobile Center and the College Basketball Experience are within the Power & Light District, also within the downtown loop. The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is perched upon a high point immediately south of the downtown loop. South of the loop is the Crossroads District , Union Station , Crown Center , the National World War I Museum , Liberty Memorial , Penn Valley Park , University Health Truman Medical Center , Children's Mercy Hospital , and

8905-465: The Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based on the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt, it is mine alone. Every ground commander seeks the battle of annihilation; so far as conditions permit, he tries to duplicate in modern war

9042-434: The Future" , a global hub for supersonic transport and the Boeing 747 . A new single-terminal building was opened on February 28, 2023, to modernize the design, operations, and passenger experience. The much smaller Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport , immediately north of downtown across the Missouri River, was the original headquarters of Trans World Airlines (TWA) and houses the Airline History Museum . It served as

9179-463: The German unconditional surrender, Eisenhower was appointed military governor of the American-occupied zone of Germany, located primarily in Southern Germany , and headquartered in Frankfurt am Main . Upon discovery of the Nazi concentration camps , he ordered camera crews to document evidence for use in the Nuremberg Trials . He reclassified German prisoners of war (POWs) in US custody as Disarmed Enemy Forces (DEFs), who were no longer subject to

9316-435: The Germans launched a surprise counteroffensive, the Battle of the Bulge , which the Allies turned back in early 1945 after Eisenhower repositioned his armies and improved weather allowed the Army Air Force to engage. German defenses continued to deteriorate on both the Eastern Front with the Red Army and the Western Front with the Western Allies. The British wanted to capture Berlin , but Eisenhower decided it would be

9453-521: The MSA) List of institutions (including those in the CSA): The metro public library systems include Kansas City Public Library (Missouri), Mid-Continent Public Library , Kansas City, Kansas Public Library , and Johnson County Library . Private libraries include the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum and the Linda Hall Library . Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight David Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower ; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969), also known by his nickname Ike ,

9590-480: The Northland outside the city limits include Parkville , Kearney , Liberty , Platte City , Gladstone , Riverside , Smithville , North Kansas City , and Weatherby Lake . Wyandotte County, Kansas has a population of 169,245 and contains Kansas City, Kansas , Bonner Springs, Kansas , and Edwardsville, Kansas . Kansas City, Kansas is locally called "KCK" to distinguish it from the larger Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO). It contains many residential neighborhoods,

9727-497: The Pacific. Eisenhower also insisted that the British give him exclusive command over all strategic air forces to facilitate Overlord, to the point of threatening to resign unless Churchill relented, which he did. Eisenhower then designed a bombing plan in France in advance of Overlord and argued with Churchill over the latter's concern with civilian casualties; de Gaulle interjected that the casualties were justified, and Eisenhower prevailed. He also had to skillfully manage to retain

9864-469: The Philippines, which was denied; because of the ongoing Mexican Revolution , he was posted to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio , Texas, under the command of General Funston. In 1916, while stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Funston convinced him to become the football coach for Peacock Military Academy ; he later became the coach at St. Louis College, now St. Mary's University , and was an honorary member of

10001-662: The Sigma Beta Chi fraternity there. While Eisenhower was stationed in Texas, he met Mamie Doud of Boone, Iowa . They were immediately taken with each other. He proposed to her on Valentine's Day in 1916. A November wedding date in Denver was moved up to July 1 due to the impending American entry into World War I ; Funston approved 10 days of leave for their wedding. The Eisenhowers moved many times during their first 35 years of marriage. The Eisenhowers had two sons. In late 1917 while he

10138-588: The Truman Library Institute's board of directors. After her death in January 2008, Margaret's cremated remains and those of her late husband, Clifton Daniel (who died in 2000), were also interred in the Library's courtyard. The president's grandson, Clifton Truman Daniel, is currently honorary co-chair of the institute's board of directors. Two floors of exhibits show his life and presidency through photographs, documents, artifacts, memorabilia, film clips and

10275-449: The United States to return to the multilateralist policies of Truman. The lead architect of the project was Edward F. Neild of Shreveport , Louisiana . Truman had picked Neild in the 1930s, during his time as presiding judge of Jackson County , to design the renovation of the old county courthouse in Independence and to oversee the construction of the new courthouse in Kansas City, after being favorably impressed by Neild's work on

10412-824: The Universe", and another that he could not serve as Army Chief of Staff if others believed he had political ambitions. In 1945, Truman told Eisenhower during the Potsdam Conference that if desired, the president would help the general win the 1948 election , and in 1947 he offered to run as Eisenhower's running mate on the Democratic ticket if MacArthur won the Republican nomination. As the election approached, other prominent citizens and politicians from both parties urged Eisenhower to run. In January 1948, after learning of plans in New Hampshire to elect delegates supporting him for

10549-759: The West Wing of the White House. On March 24, 1978, three ceremonial swords and two daggers were stolen from the Harry S Truman Presidential Library. The FBI has posted a reward for their recovery. The mural Independence and the Opening of the West by Thomas Hart Benton adorns the walls of the lobby entrance. The mural, completed in 1961, was painted on site by Benton over a three-year span. Visitors after 1972 include incumbent Presidents Ford, Carter, and Clinton and Presidential Nominees John Kerry and John McCain . Kansas City The Kansas City metropolitan area

10686-582: The area's Major League Soccer club, Sporting Kansas City . Major educational institutions include the University of Missouri–Kansas City , Rockhurst University , Kansas City Art Institute , Stowers Institute for Medical Research , Midwest Research Institute , and Penn Valley Community College . East Side of the Metro is primarily eastern Jackson County which is an area of the Kansas City Metro that contains

10823-555: The area's major airport until 1972, when Kansas City International (then known as Mid-Continent International Airport and home to an Overhaul Base for TWA) became the primary airport for the metropolitan area after undergoing $ 150 million in upgrades that had been approved by voters in a 1966 bond issue. Downtown Airport is still used for general aviation and airshows. Two general aviation airports are in Johnson County, Kansas. New Century AirCenter borders southwest Olathe and northeast Gardner. The primary runway at New Century AirCenter

10960-578: The average American metro area, and nearly 75% more than the large metro area with the least in Las Vegas . The Kansas City area is a confluence of four major U.S. interstate highways : Other interstates that cross through the area include: U.S. Highways serving the Kansas City Metro Area include these: Kansas highways in the area include these: Missouri highways in the area include these: These are other notable roads: The Missouri side of

11097-462: The baseball team at West Point was one of the greatest disappointments of my life, maybe my greatest". He made the varsity football team and was a starter at halfback in 1912, when he tried to tackle the legendary Jim Thorpe of the Carlisle Indians . Eisenhower suffered a torn knee while being tackled in the next game, which was the last he played; he reinjured his knee on horseback and in

11234-456: The boxing ring, so he turned to fencing and gymnastics. Eisenhower later served as junior varsity football coach and cheerleader, which caught the attention of General Frederick Funston . He graduated from West Point in the middle of the class of 1915, which became known as " the class the stars fell on ", because 59 members eventually became general officers . After graduation in 1915, Second Lieutenant Eisenhower requested an assignment in

11371-487: The building to resemble his maternal grandfather Solomon Young's house in Grandview, Missouri . In response to a New York Times review that recalled Frank Lloyd Wright influences in the library's horizontal design, Truman was reported to have said, "It's got too much of that fellow in it to suit me." Architects Gould Evans designed a $ 23 million renovation of the entire facility, unveiled in 2001. The changes included

11508-442: The center and south of the front (respectively). Eisenhower worked tirelessly to address the demands of the rival commanders to optimize Allied forces, often by giving them tactical latitude; many historians conclude this delayed the Allied victory in Europe. However, due to Eisenhower's persistence, the pivotal supply port at Antwerp was successfully, albeit belatedly, opened in late 1944 . In recognition of his senior position in

11645-708: The city's skyline. The Downtown Loop is formed by Interstates 670, 70, and 35. Within the downtown loop are many of the tall buildings and skyscrapers that make up the city's skyline. The downtown loop also has small, distinct neighborhoods such as Quality Hill , the Garment District , the Financial District , the Convention Center District, and the Power and Light District . Other nearby neighborhoods are River Market and Columbus Park, both located between

11782-475: The classic example of Cannae . Once the coastal assault had succeeded, Eisenhower insisted on retaining personal control over the land battle strategy and was immersed in the command and supply of multiple assaults through France on Germany. Field Marshal Montgomery insisted priority be given to his 21st Army Group 's attack being made in the north, while Generals Bradley ( 12th US Army Group ) and Devers ( Sixth US Army Group ) insisted they be given priority in

11919-731: The clearing of the Bonus March encampment in Washington, D.C. Although he was against the actions taken against the veterans and strongly advised MacArthur against taking a public role in it, he later wrote the Army's official incident report, endorsing MacArthur's conduct. In 1935, he accompanied MacArthur to the Philippines, where he served as assistant military adviser to the Philippine government in developing their army. MacArthur allowed Eisenhower to handpick an officer whom he thought would contribute to

12056-462: The courthouse in his native Caddo Parish . Neild was also one of the architects involved in the reconstruction of the White House during Truman's presidency. Neild died July 6, 1955, at the Kansas City Club while working on the design. The work was completed by Alonzo H. Gentry of Gentry and Voskamp, the firm that designed Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium . Truman had initially wanted

12193-458: The crown prince, and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi , the last Shah of Iran . He turned these items over to the National Archives and Records Administration as required by law, and they were displayed at the museum. According to the museum curator, they "had embedded diamonds and rubies and sapphires, a number of precious stones in their hilts and in their scabbards". In March 1978, burglars broached

12330-946: The downtown loop and the Missouri River . Between the downtown loop and the state line are the Westside neighborhood and the West Bottoms , located at the bottom of the bluff adjacent to Kaw Point . East of the loop are the 18th & Vine District, the North Bottoms, and Northeast Kansas City (the East Bottoms, Northeast, and Pendleton Heights ). South of the loop is the Crossroads District , Union Hill , Crown Center , Hospital Hill , Longfellow, Wendell Phillips, and Washington Wheatley. The Kansas City Convention Center , Municipal Auditorium , City Hall , Lyric Theater , Midland Theatre , Ilus Davis Park, and Barney Allis Plaza are within

12467-439: The evangelist Dwight L. Moody . All of the boys were nicknamed "Ike", such as "Big Ike" ( Edgar ) and "Little Ike" (Dwight); the nickname was intended as an abbreviation of their last name. By World War II, only Dwight was still called "Ike". In 1892, the family moved to Abilene, Kansas, which Eisenhower considered his hometown. As a child, he was involved in an accident that cost his younger brother Earl an eye, for which he

12604-474: The extensive use of glass in the relatively windowless structure and a significant change to the space between Truman's grave and the museum. Truman actively participated in the day-to-day operation of the Library, personally training museum docents and conducting impromptu "press conferences" for visiting school students. He frequently arrived before the staff and would often answer the phone to give directions and answer questions, telling surprised callers that he

12741-570: The facility and often worked there five or six days a week. In the office, he wrote articles, letters, and his book Mr. Citizen . In 2007, the Truman Library Institute announced a $ 1.6 million preservation and restoration of his working office to preserve the artifacts it contains and allow for easier public viewing. The three-stage project completed in 2009 and features an enclosed limestone pavilion for better access and viewing and an updated climate control system. The office appears today just as it did when Harry Truman died on December 26, 1972. Long

12878-658: The family farm. Eisenhower's mother, Ida Elizabeth (Stover) Eisenhower , of predominantly German Protestant ancestry, moved to Kansas from Virginia. She married David on September 23, 1885, in Lecompton, Kansas , on the campus of their alma mater, Lane University . David owned a general store in Hope, Kansas , but the business failed due to economic conditions and the family became impoverished. The Eisenhowers lived in Texas from 1889 until 1892, and later returned to Kansas, with $ 24 (equivalent to $ 814 in 2023) to their name. David worked as

13015-642: The far-eastern urban side of Kansas City, Missouri and the following large suburbs of Blue Springs , Independence , and Lee's Summit . The area includes western Lafayette County Missouri and the far northeast portion of Cass County Missouri. The East Side of Metro includes the Missouri suburbs of Independence , Grandview , Blue Springs , Raytown , Lees Summit , Grain Valley , Oak Grove , Sugar Creek , River Bend , Lake Lotawana , Lone Jack , Greenwood , Unity Village , Buckner , Pleasant Hill , Bates City , Odessa , and Lake Tapawingo . Arrowhead Stadium , home of

13152-515: The first to use such a weapon." Initially, Eisenhower hoped for cooperation with the Soviets. He even visited Warsaw in 1945. Invited by Bolesław Bierut and decorated with the highest military decoration , he was shocked by the scale of destruction in the city. However, by mid-1947, as east–west tensions over economic recovery in Germany and the Greek Civil War escalated, Eisenhower agreed with

13289-417: The forthcoming Republican National Convention , Eisenhower stated through the Army that he was "not available for and could not accept nomination to high political office"; "life-long professional soldiers", he wrote, "in the absence of some obvious and overriding reason, [should] abstain from seeking high political office". Eisenhower maintained no political party affiliation during this time. Many believed he

13426-509: The front door of the museum, smashed showcases, and stole the three swords and two daggers, which were valued at US$ 1 million at that time. None of the stolen items have been recovered. In 2021, the FBI offered a reward of up to $ 1 million for return of the items. On December 11, 2006, Kofi Annan gave his final speech as Secretary-General of the United Nations at the library, where he encouraged

13563-527: The funds. They made a pact to take alternate years at college while the other worked to earn the tuitions. Edgar took the first turn at school, and Dwight was employed as a night supervisor at the Belle Springs Creamery. When Edgar asked for a second year, Dwight consented. At that time, a friend Edward "Swede" Hazlett was applying to the Naval Academy and urged Dwight to apply, since no tuition

13700-409: The game six nights a week for five months. Eisenhower continued to play bridge throughout his military career. While stationed in the Philippines, he played regularly with President Manuel Quezon , earning him the nickname the "Bridge Wizard of Manila". An unwritten qualification for an officer's appointment to Eisenhower's staff during World War II was the ability to play bridge. He played even during

13837-432: The hazing, though he willingly accepted it as a plebe. He was also a regular violator of the more detailed regulations and finished school with a less than stellar discipline rating. Academically, Eisenhower's best subject by far was English. Otherwise, his performance was average, though he thoroughly enjoyed the typical emphasis of engineering on science and mathematics. In athletics, Eisenhower later said that "not making

13974-594: The help of his brother Milton Eisenhower , then a journalist at the Agriculture Department , he produced a guide to American battlefields in Europe. He then was assigned to the Army War College and graduated in 1928. After a one-year assignment in France, Eisenhower served as executive officer to General George V. Moseley , Assistant Secretary of War , from 1929 to February 1933. Major Eisenhower graduated from

14111-561: The improvement of highways became a signature issue for Eisenhower as president. He assumed duties again at Camp Meade , Maryland, commanding a battalion of tanks, where he remained until 1922. His schooling continued, focused on the nature of the next war and the role of the tank. His new expertise in tank warfare was strengthened by a close collaboration with George S. Patton , Sereno E. Brett , and other senior tank leaders. Their leading-edge ideas of speed-oriented offensive tank warfare were strongly discouraged by superiors, who considered

14248-689: The independent baseball team, the Kansas City Monarchs , and the Legends shopping district. Bonner Springs is home to the Azura Amphitheater (commonly known as the Sandstone Amphitheater), the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame , Wyandotte County Historical Museum, and the annual Kansas City Renaissance Festival . Cass County, Missouri has a population of 107,824 and contains parts of "South Kansas City". This area consists of

14385-400: The inevitable loss of life and suffering that would be experienced by the troops under his command and their families. This prompted him to make a point of visiting every division involved in the invasion. Eisenhower's sense of responsibility was underscored by his draft of a statement to be issued if the invasion failed. It has been called one of the great speeches of history: Our landings in

14522-470: The last 20 years of his life. The images were mostly landscapes but also portraits of subjects such as Mamie, their grandchildren, General Montgomery, George Washington , and Abraham Lincoln . Wendy Beckett stated that Eisenhower's paintings, "simple and earnest", caused her to "wonder at the hidden depths of this reticent president". A conservative in both art and politics, Eisenhower in a 1962 speech denounced modern art as "a piece of canvas that looks like

14659-648: The legitimate government of China, and he won congressional approval of the Formosa Resolution . His administration provided major aid to help the French fight off Vietnamese Communists in the First Indochina War . After the French left, he gave strong financial support to the new state of South Vietnam . He supported regime-changing military coups in Iran and Guatemala orchestrated by his own administration. During

14796-477: The metropolitan area south of the Missouri River shares a grid system with Johnson County on the Kansas side. Most east–west streets are numbered and most north–south streets named. Addresses on east–west streets are numbered from Main Street in Kansas City, Missouri, and on north–south streets from St. John Avenue (or the Missouri River, in the River Market area). The direction 'South' in street and address numbers

14933-673: The mission. Hence he chose James Ord , a classmate of his at West Point. Having been brought up in Mexico, which inculcated into him the Spanish culture which influenced both Mexico and the Philippines, Ord was deemed the right pick for the job. Eisenhower had strong philosophical disagreements with MacArthur regarding the role of the Philippine Army and the leadership qualities that an American army officer should exhibit and develop in his subordinates. The antipathy between Eisenhower and MacArthur lasted

15070-537: The most southern part of Kansas City, Missouri, and the suburbs of Harrisonville , Belton , Loch Lloyd , Peculiar , and Raymore . Leavenworth County, Kansas has a population of 81,881 and contains the cities of Leavenworth and Lansing , and the Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary . The Kansas City metropolitan area (MO-KS) population in 2018 was 2,106,632 and the Kansas City CSA in 2022

15207-462: The museum in March 1962. That November, burglars stole the entire collection. None of the stolen coins have been recovered. Snyder helped coordinate an effort among 147 coin collectors to reconstruct the collection, which went back on display in 1967, at a ceremony attended by Truman. While serving as president, Truman had received gifts of jewel encrusted swords and daggers from Saud of Saudi Arabia , then

15344-485: The new tank corps , where he was promoted to brevet lieutenant colonel in the National Army . He commanded a unit that trained tank crews at Camp Colt  – his first command. Though Eisenhower and his tank crews never saw combat, he displayed excellent organizational skills as well as an ability to accurately assess junior officers' strengths and make optimal placements of personnel. His spirits were raised when

15481-581: The new American attitudes of the German people as Nazi victims not villains, while aggressively purging the ex-Nazis. In November 1945, Eisenhower returned to Washington to replace Marshall as Chief of Staff of the Army . His main role was the rapid demobilization of millions of soldiers, which was delayed by lack of shipping. Eisenhower was convinced in 1946 that the Soviet Union did not want war and that friendly relations could be maintained; he strongly supported

15618-651: The new United Nations and favored its involvement in the control of atomic bombs. However, in formulating policies regarding the atomic bomb and relations with the Soviets, Truman was guided by the State Department and ignored Eisenhower and the Pentagon . Indeed, Eisenhower had opposed the use of the atomic bomb against the Japanese, writing, "First, the Japanese were ready to surrender and it wasn't necessary to hit them with that awful thing. Second, I hated to see our country be

15755-467: The new approach too radical and preferred to continue using tanks in a strictly supportive role for the infantry. Eisenhower was even threatened with court-martial for continued publication of these proposed methods of tank deployment, and he relented. From 1920, Eisenhower served under a succession of talented generals – Fox Conner , John J. Pershing , Douglas MacArthur and George Marshall . He first became executive officer to General Conner in

15892-595: The next most difficult campaign against the Germans—a beach landing assault. His first struggles, however, were with Allied leaders and officers on matters vital to the success of the Normandy invasion; he argued with Roosevelt over an essential agreement with De Gaulle to use French resistance forces in covert operations against the Germans in advance of Operation Overlord. Admiral Ernest J. King fought with Eisenhower over King's refusal to provide additional landing craft from

16029-621: The regimental executive officer. In March 1941 he was promoted to colonel and assigned as chief of staff of the newly activated IX Corps under Major General Kenyon Joyce . In June 1941, he was appointed chief of staff to General Walter Krueger , Commander of the Third Army , at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. After successfully participating in the Louisiana Maneuvers , he was promoted to brigadier general on October 3, 1941. After

16166-466: The rest of their lives. Historians have concluded that this assignment provided valuable preparation for handling the challenging personalities of Winston Churchill , George S. Patton, George Marshall, and Bernard Montgomery during World War II. Eisenhower later emphasized that too much had been made of the disagreements with MacArthur and that a positive relationship endured. While in Manila, Mamie suffered

16303-431: The services of the often unruly George S. Patton, by severely reprimanding him when Patton earlier had slapped a subordinate , and then when Patton gave a speech in which he made improper comments about postwar policy. The D-Day Normandy landings on June 6, 1944, were costly but successful. Two months later (August 15), the invasion of Southern France took place, and control of forces in the southern invasion passed from

16440-638: The south, and Troost Avenue on the east. Midtown/Plaza, the core of the metropolitan area, has many cultural attractions, shopping and entertainment areas, large hospitals, universities, and the metro area's most densely populated neighborhoods. Midtown/Plaza has many distinct and historic neighborhoods, including Westport , Hyde Park , and Southmoreland . Shopping is centered on the Country Club Plaza, which has luxury retailers, hotels, and restaurants. Brookside and Westport also contain smaller-scale, neighborhood-oriented, and niche-market retailers. Midtown

16577-547: The spread of communism and reduce federal deficits . In 1953, he considered using nuclear weapons to end the Korean War and may have threatened China with nuclear attack if an armistice was not reached quickly. China did agree and an armistice resulted, which remains in effect. His New Look policy of nuclear deterrence prioritized "inexpensive" nuclear weapons while reducing funding for expensive Army divisions. He continued Harry S. Truman 's policy of recognizing Taiwan as

16714-648: The stressful weeks leading up to the D-Day landings. His favorite partner was General Alfred Gruenther , considered the best player in the US Army; he appointed Gruenther his second-in-command at NATO partly because of his skill at bridge. Saturday night bridge games at the White House were a feature of his presidency. He was a strong player, though not an expert by modern standards. The great bridge player and popularizer Ely Culbertson described his game as classic and sound with "flashes of brilliance" and said that "you can always judge

16851-655: The unit under his command received orders overseas to France. This time his wishes were thwarted when the armistice was signed a week before his departure date. Completely missing out on the warfront left him depressed and bitter for a time, despite receiving the Distinguished Service Medal for his work at home. In World War II, rivals who had combat service in the Great War (led by Gen. Bernard Montgomery ) sought to denigrate Eisenhower for his previous lack of combat duty, despite his stateside experience establishing

16988-648: Was "one of the most deeply religious men I know" though unattached to any "sect or organization". He was baptized in the Presbyterian Church in 1953. Eisenhower attended Abilene High School and graduated in 1909. As a freshman, he injured his knee and developed a leg infection that extended into his groin, which his doctor diagnosed as life-threatening. The doctor insisted that the leg be amputated but Dwight refused to allow it, and surprisingly recovered, though he had to repeat his freshman year. He and brother Edgar both wanted to attend college, though they lacked

17125-403: Was 2,209,152. The MSA covers a total area of 7,952 sq mi (20,600 km ) including 97 sq mi (250 km ) of water. Often associated with Kansas City, the cities of Lawrence, Kansas and Saint Joseph, Missouri are identified as separate Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City MO-KS (USA) Combined Statistical Area (CSA) encompasses

17262-570: Was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff in charge of the new Operations Division (which replaced WPD) under Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall, who spotted talent and promoted accordingly. At the end of May 1942, Eisenhower accompanied Lt. Gen. Henry H. Arnold , commanding general of the Army Air Forces , to London to assess the effectiveness of the theater commander in England, Maj. Gen. James E. Chaney . He returned to Washington on June 3 with

17399-501: Was born in Denison, Texas , and raised in Abilene, Kansas . His family had a strong religious background, and his mother became a Jehovah's Witness . Eisenhower, however, belonged to no organized church until 1952. He graduated from West Point in 1915 and later married Mamie Doud , with whom he had two sons. During World War I , he was denied a request to serve in Europe and instead commanded

17536-446: Was charged in these positions with planning and carrying out the Allied assault on the coast of Normandy in June 1944 under the code name Operation Overlord, the liberation of Western Europe and the invasion of Germany. Eisenhower, as well as the officers and troops under him, had learned valuable lessons in their previous operations, and their skills had all strengthened in preparation for

17673-541: Was deemed necessary to the campaign and Eisenhower encountered a "preposterous situation" with the multiple rival factions in France. His primary objective was to move forces successfully into Tunisia and intending to facilitate that objective, he gave his support to François Darlan as High Commissioner in North Africa, despite Darlan's previous high offices in Vichy France and his continued role as commander-in-chief of

17810-632: Was extended as commander of AFHQ across the Mediterranean basin to include the British Eighth Army , commanded by General Sir Bernard Montgomery. The Eighth Army had advanced across the Western Desert from the east and was ready for the start of the Tunisia Campaign . After the capitulation of Axis forces in North Africa, Eisenhower oversaw the invasion of Sicily . Once Mussolini ,

17947-748: Was in charge of training at Fort Oglethorpe in Georgia , his wife Mamie had their first son, Doud Dwight "Icky" Eisenhower , who died of scarlet fever at the age of three. Eisenhower was mostly reluctant to discuss his death. Their second son, John Eisenhower , was born in Denver , Colorado. John served in the United States Army , retired as a brigadier general, became an author and served as Ambassador to Belgium from 1969 to 1971. He married Barbara Jean Thompson and had four children: David , Barbara Ann, Susan Elaine and Mary Jean . David, after whom Camp David

18084-585: Was offered a post by the Philippine Commonwealth Government, namely by then Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon on recommendations by MacArthur, to become the chief of police of a new capital being planned, now named Quezon City , but he declined the offer. Eisenhower returned to the United States in December 1939 and was assigned as commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment at Fort Lewis , Washington, later becoming

18221-458: Was remorseful for the remainder of his life. Eisenhower developed a keen and enduring interest in exploring the outdoors. He learned about hunting and fishing, cooking, and card playing from a man named Bob Davis who camped on the Smoky Hill River . While his mother was against war, it was her collection of history books that first sparked Eisenhower's interest in military history; he became

18358-466: Was required. Eisenhower requested consideration for either Annapolis or West Point with his Senator, Joseph L. Bristow . Though Eisenhower was among the winners of the entrance-exam competition, he was beyond the age limit for the Naval Academy. He accepted an appointment to West Point in 1911. At West Point, Eisenhower relished the emphasis on traditions and on sports, but was less enthusiastic about

18495-452: Was shot down over the Soviet Union. Eisenhower approved the Bay of Pigs Invasion , which was left to John F. Kennedy to carry out. On the domestic front, Eisenhower governed as a moderate conservative who continued New Deal agencies and expanded Social Security . He covertly opposed Joseph McCarthy and contributed to the end of McCarthyism by openly invoking executive privilege . He signed

18632-448: Was the "man himself." His visitors included incumbent Presidents Eisenhower , Kennedy , Johnson , and Nixon , former President Hoover, Jack Benny , Ginger Rogers , Robert F. Kennedy , Thomas Hart Benton , and Dean Acheson . When Truman left the White House in 1953, he established an office in Room 1107 of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City at 925 Grand Avenue. When the library opened in 1957, he transferred his office to

18769-444: Was the 34th president of the United States , serving from 1953 to 1961. During World War II , he was Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe and achieved the five-star rank as General of the Army . Eisenhower planned and supervised two of the most consequential military campaigns of World War II : Operation Torch in the North Africa campaign in 1942–1943 and the invasion of Normandy in 1944. Eisenhower

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