Dwight David Eisenhower [ a ] born David Dwight Eisenhower ; October 14, β March 28, , also known by his nickname Ike , was the 34th president of the United States , serving from to Eisenhower planned and supervised two of the most consequential military campaigns of World War II : Operation Torch in the North Africa campaign in β and the invasion of Normandy in Eisenhower 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 He graduated from West Point in 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 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 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 the American-occupied zone of Germany , Army Chief of Staff β , president of Columbia University β , and as the first supreme commander of NATO β In , 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 election in landslides , both times defeating Adlai Stevenson II. Eisenhower's main goals in office were to contain the spread of communism and reduce federal deficits.
