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Photo # USA P-16071:  General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower, November 1947

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969), 34th President of the United States (1953-1961) and General of the Army

Dwight David Eisenhower was born at Denison, Texas, on 14 October 1890. He was raised at Abilene, Kansas, where his family moved when he was an infant. Eisenhower entered the U.S. Military Academy, at West Point, New York, in 1911 and graduated in 1915. Following commissioning as an officer of the United States Army, he served initially in Texas and subsequently in a variety of other posts at home and abroad. Training duties during World War I prevented him from seeing combat action. After the war Eisenhower worked directly with several of the Army's most important officers, among them Douglas MacArthur and George C. Marshall, earning a reputation as one of the service's premier staff officers.

Soon after the United States entered World War II, Brigadier General Eisenhower was put in charge of Army war plans. Five months later he was given command of U.S. forces in the British Isles. In November 1942 Lieutenant General Eisenhower led the invasion of North Africa and the subsequent operations that, after hard fighting that produced vital combat experience for the as yet unseasoned Army, drove the Germans and Italians from the southern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Promoted to the rank of General early in 1943, Eisenhower commanded the invasions of Sicily in July and of the Italian mainland in September of that year.

Placed in charge of the forthcoming Allied invasion of France at the end of 1943, General Eisenhower was responsible for the massive Normandy operation in June 1944 and the dynamic, and frequently difficult, land campaign that ended with Germany's surrender eleven months later. He was honored with the rank of General of the Army in December 1944. After the fighting ended on 7 May 1945, Eisenhower led American forces occupying Germany for several months, then was Chief of Staff of the Army from November 1945 until February 1948. He was President of Columbia University in 1948-1950. Recalled to military service, Eisenhower commanded Allied forces in western Europe in 1951-1952, as the Korean War threatened to expand into World conflict.

In 1952, Eisenhower left the Army to enter politics, becoming the Republican Party candidate for the Presidency. He won the election that November, traveled to Korea shortly afterwards, and took office in January 1953. Abroad, President Eisenhower's eight years in office were marked by an intense Cold War with Communist states and the gradual withdrawal of western European nations from their colonial empires. Domestically, he championed moderate policies and adopted a defense strategy that emphasized the deterrent power of strategic nuclear weapons. In January 1961 President Eisenhower retired from public life and thereafter resided at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He died at Walter Reed Army Hospital, in Washington, D.C., on 28 March 1969.

The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) is named in honor of President Eisenhower.

This page features portraits of Dwight D. Eisenhower, and provides links to selected views of his activities during and after World War II.

For more images concerning Dwight D. Eisenhower, see:

  • General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower -- Activities during World War II, 1941-1945;
  • General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower -- Activities after World War II, 1945-1952;
  • President Dwight D. Eisenhower -- Activities in 1953-1961 (Part I);
  • President Dwight D. Eisenhower -- Activities in 1953-1961 (Part II).


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 78357-KN (color)

    Lieutenant General Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. Army

    Portrait by McClelland Barclay, USNR, circa 1943.

    Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 173KB; 610 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: USA C-2182 (Color)

    General Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. Army

    Portrait photograph, taken circa late 1943.

    Photograph from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 80KB; 590 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: USA C-2175 (Color)

    General Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. Army

    At his desk, circa 31 December 1943, the day he was named to command Allied forces in Europe.
    Note the "SHAEF" (Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force) patch on his left shoulder.

    Photograph from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 75KB; 585 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: USA P-16071

    General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. Army


    Portrait photograph, 18 November 1947.

    Official U.S. Army Photograph.

    Online Image: 37KB; 575 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 71006-KN (color)

    General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower,
    Chief of Staff, U.S. Army

    Official photographic portrait, dated 19 December 1947.

    Official U.S. Army Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 61KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 71005-KN (color)

    General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower,
    Chief of Staff, U.S. Army

    Official portrait, dated 8 June 1948.

    Official U.S. Army Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 105KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 86688-KN (Color)

    President Dwight D. Eisenhower

    Portrait in oils, by Roy Spreter, Gladwyn, Pennsylvania, 1955-1956.

    Donated to USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) by John H. Slater, May 1978.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 76KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 85599-KN (Color)

    President Dwight D. Eisenhower

    Portrait photograph, dated 4 June 1956.

    Courtesy of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, Abilene, Kansas.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 54KB; 570 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 85937-KN (Color)

    President Dwight D. Eisenhower

    Portrait photograph, dated 4 June 1956.

    Courtesy of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, Abilene, Kansas.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 62KB; 570 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 85938-KN (Color)

    President Dwight D. Eisenhower

    Portrait photograph, dated 26 May 1959.

    Courtesy of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, Abilene, Kansas.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 60KB; 560 x 765 pixels

     

    For more images concerning Dwight D. Eisenhower, see:

  • General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower -- Activities during World War II, 1941-1945;
  • General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower -- Activities after World War II, 1945-1952;
  • President Dwight D. Eisenhower -- Activities in 1953-1961 (Part I);
  • President Dwight D. Eisenhower -- Activities in 1953-1961 (Part II).


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 15 February 2004
    Minor text correction 17 March 2004