The Soul of an American President: The Untold Story of Dwight D. Eisenhower's Faith

by Alan Sears, Craig Osten, Ryan Cole

While there have been many biographies of Dwight D. Eisenhower that focus on his military career or the time of his presidency, none clearly explores the important role faith played both in his personal life and in his public policy. This despite the fact that he is the only US president to be baptized as a Christian while in office.

Alan Sears and Craig Osten invite you on a journey that is unique in American history and is essential to understanding one of the most consequential, admired, and complex Americans of the 20th Century. The story begins in abject poverty in rural Texas, then travels through Kansas, West Point, two World Wars, and down Pennsylvania Avenue. This is the untold story of a man whose growing faith sustained him through the loss of a young son, marital difficulties, depression, career disappointments, and being witness to some of the worst atrocities humankind has devised. A man whose faith was based in his own sincere personal conviction, not out of a sense of political expediency or social obligation.

You've met Dwight Eisenhower the soldier and Dwight Eisenhower the president. Now meet Dwight Eisenhower the man of faith.

Genres: History, Biography, Presidents, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, American History, Government

240 pages, Hardcover

First published July 4, 2019

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many US presidential candidates claim Christian faith. We might wonder if the faith is real or if a candidate is a skilled politician just using the claim of faith to further their political career. Eisenhower came under much criticism for his faith and the authors tried to find out if his faith was genuine.

Some of the criticism of Eisenhower's claim to faith arose from the religious experiences of his parents. Ike's religious heritage was in Germany and his ancestor's involvement with Anabaptists. Emigration to America resulted in his parents being involved in the Brethren and then the Jehovah's Witness. Failed prophecy resulted in his father's disillusionment but his mother remained committed to the movement to the end of her life. She did not approve of Ike choosing a career in the military at the Witnesses are pacifist and anti-military.

Ike's military career is reviewed. Often the authors write that Eisenhower's spiritual life is vague or unknown. Mamie, whom Ike married after graduating West Point, had Presbyterian roots. When Ike was elected president and wanted to attend a church in Washington, DC, he chose a Presbyterian one because of his wife's faith. Eisenhower corresponded with Billy Graham and there is assurance Ike had saving faith after the election. He then became quite outspoken about that faith. While “the 1952 election was a turning point in his faith...” I still remain quite unclear as to the nature of Ike's faith before his presidency. (1862/3952) The authors attribute the misunderstandings about Eisenhower's faith to Ike's not wanting “people to perceive that his faith was for political gain.” (1916/3952)

This is a selective biography for readers who want to understand the faith of a US president, particularly while in the office. Many of Ike's prayers, statements and actions reflecting his faith are documented in the second half of the book. They “indicate that Ike's religious awakening upon assuming the presidency was genuine.” (2073/3952) Eisenhower's faith was important in the era of increasing tension with the generally atheistic Soviet Union.

Most of the book serves as a general biography, recounting Ike's military career and presidential experiences. Readers will gain a better understanding of the issues precipitating the Cold War. They will also realize the origin of some religious aspects, such as “one nation under God” and find seeds for the National Day of Prayer. The book does verify Eisenhower's genuine faith later in life but is vague about his military years.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Mirah W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Final Review: I am giving this book 3 stars on the Goodreads scale for 'liked it'. I appreciate the research that went into this book and the references provided. I think the authors did a great job at providing historical context for the reader. I also think they made a convincing argument of Eisenhower's faith being a true one and not contrived for political gain. I liked learning more about Eisenhower himself; while I visited the Eisenhower National Historic Site as a kid, I didn't retain much from that visit. I also liked that I learned a lot about the actions of Eisenhower's administration with this book. I didn't rate it higher for two primary reasons. 1, I don't think it delved enough into Ike's faith during WWII. Based on my interpretation of the author's arguments and the excerpts from other sources provided in the book, WWII seems to be the time that really cemented Ike's faith and I felt the author's coverage of that time period was lacking. 2, While I thought the book was easy to read, there were some sections that seemed to incorporate too many passages from other letters, books, resources and the chapters lost some momentum and my interest.

Initial review: I am six chapters into this book and here are my thoughts so far. I really appreciate the historical research that has been done by the authors. There are tons of footnotes for sources of their information, but I feel the authors are reaching in terms to the faith component of Ike’s story. The authors have used ‘reticent’ to describe Ike’s approach to his faith, but I feel that might be assigning a spiritual awareness not yet fully developed in Ike at this point of his life. The historical material covering the Eisenhower marriage, the loss of their son, and Ike’s career steps in the military so far are interesting to me as a reader and that is what is keeping me engaged. I enjoy learning more about World War II history, so this is giving me a different perspective on that time period. Since I am not yet finished with the book, I am not assigning a star rating at this time.

I did receive an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher, but the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Other biographies on Eisenhower are 600 to 900 plus pages. The Soul Of An American President is a tight 240 pages.
The focus of the book is to look for and define Dwight D. Eisenhower's Christian faith.
A second reason is did his faith develop when he became president of the United States of America?
When I began reading the book I chose to have a "convince me" attitude. I had read nonfiction books and articles about his life. I heard stories my dad had told me. I'd read a book about the relationship between Eisenhower and his secretary during the war, Kay Summersby. I wanted this book, The Soul Of An American President, to convince me he had a Christian faith.
What this book showed me:
•The ancestry of the Eisenhower family. Where they originated in Europe, and their Anabaptist heritage. They settled first in Pennsylvania.
•Eisenhower's parents and siblings. This includes his parents religious and pacifist beliefs. His mother's affiliations would be remarked on and cause trouble later.
•Ike's ambition to attend college.
•His appointment to West Point.
•A long series of military commissions that seemed to be unremarkable. His transfers to military schools and further training.
•Marriage and family. The book touches on the strained times in his marriage.
•The friendship of Eisenhower and Patton.
•World War II. His role as the commanding general for the Allied Forces in Europe. One chapter is devoted to this role.
•His elections and presidency. During his presidency, the Civil Rights movement, Cold War, Communism; and the things while in office he took part in creating.
•The relationship he had with Billy Graham, Richard Nixon, and pastor Dr. Ed Elson.
•Life after he left office.
•His failing health, death, and funeral.
What is omitted from the book, except a small paragraph on pages 82-83, is the possibility of his affair with (her name is not mentioned) Kay Summersby. There were rumors. Even my dad as a soldier had heard the rumors. In later years, former President Harry Truman had talked about the affair in an interview. And, in Omar Bradley's biography, he had stated Eisenhower and Summersby were in love. It's been several years ago that I read a book about their relationship. I'd stated in my review that only those two people and God know the extent of how they felt about one another, and if they acted on how they felt. It is important to note that at the end of Eisenhower's life he stated: "I have always loved my wife. I have always loved my children. I have always loved my grandchildren. And I have always loved my country." Page 199.
What I loved about the book:
•Eisenhower's faithfulness to his military commissions despite his disappointment or difficulty with them.
•I saw how God used the experiences in life to prepare him for future experiences. God was uniquely preparing him.
•The strong relationship between Billy Graham and Eisenhower. The last meeting they had before Eisenhower's death is described by Graham. This is a special conversation.
•Nixon's poignant eulogy.
•The Scripture that was read and the hymns that were sung at Eisenhower's funeral.
•Letters and speeches are included from statesman, friends, family, and Eisenhower himself.
•An interesting interview by Clare Booth Luce.
•I saw a little of the private side of Eisenhower in his marriage.

Did the trio of authors convince me of Eisenhower's Christian faith?
Yes, I am convinced. I believe what convinced me the most was his transformation. Throughout most of his life he'd been focused on military and family. He did not talk about private matters, and his religion and faith was a private matter. However, it was during the war years he mentioned a prayer he'd heard. His story appeared in a military prayer book. And, in the speech he gave a commissioning speech to Allied Forces before D-Day, 6th of June, 1944. In this speech he stated, "And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking." Page 100. As time went on, Eisenhower remarked more often of God and praying. It is interesting to note, it was important to him that his faith not be used as a political show or insincere. He was a man of strong principle and conviction. The Soul Of An American President includes in its final chapters more examples of his faith.
In the final pages, I became teary eyed. Eisenhower is a hero in my eyes. I already admired him because of his military strategy, rank, and person. I admire him even more knowing he was a man of principle in his faith. He was a person of strong character who was not persuaded to do anything that he did not fully believe in.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Baker Books, but was not required to leave a positive review.

[C.E. Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that this book is more than a biography of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Though it explores this man’s rise to presidency of the United States of America, it also delves into his deep faith.

I learned so much about this man— his losses, gains, and heartbreaks, where he came from, what he fought for, and what he believed in. For instance, he encouraged Congress to insert the word “under God” into our nations pledge of allegiance. He spoke of the importance of prayer and he prayed desperately for the troops in his command.

One part of this book that I found exceptionally touching was the last meeting between President Eisenhower and his longtime friend, Reverend Billy Graham. After a meaningful conversation, the dying president clasped hands with the Dr. Graham and told him he was ready to meet his maker.

From his humble beginnings in Texas, to the simple government-issued casket he asked to be buried in, this man’s deep, powerful, and genuine faith is evident and inspiring.

Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was under no obligation to post a positive review.

[Bruce Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the advance copy from Baker Publishing Company of Alan Sears, Craig Osten, and Ryan Cole's work on the faith of our 34th President. Not only was President Eisenhower a great military leader and executive leader, he was also a spiritual leader. I found the book fascinating since much of it has not been revealed in other biographies. The prayer the President composed and read at his first inauguration is amazing! The authors have provided a terrific service to Eisenhower studies with their work.

If I am required to list anything negative about the book, I guess I would say I thought chapter 6 was somewhat less interesting and possibly repetitive. Nevertheless, I found the material more fascinating with each chapter and read several chapters at a sitting.

If you enjoy histories or biographies, I encourage you to get a copy of "The Soul of an American President".

[Enoch Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides an insightful account of the religious beliefs of Eisenhower. The book is very readable, easily accessible to most readers, and presents a balanced interpretation of the events of Eisenhower's life.

It must be noted that the book is not a biography of the president, nor does it claim to be, and therefore readers who are looking for a thorough account of Eisenhower's life may be left disappointed.

This book, however, accomplishes well what it sets out to do and is recommended reading for any Christian who is researching role models in the field of politics.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book from the Baker Publisher Group. A must read for anyone interested in Christianity in American History. Before reading this book I really did not know anything about Ike Eisenhower. I now admire this man very much. This book is not a dry biography, it is a fascinating account of the life of an American President and is extremely well written and researched. The only thing missing is a back of the book index to refer back to important people and events.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Traces the spiritual heritage and growing religious faith of Dwight D. Eisenhower, especially through the years of his presidency and later life.

Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first president I remember hearing about as a child. To be honest, he seemed kind of bland, and mostly I remember reports of him golfing. Recent historians and biographers have raised the estimation of Eisenhower as they consider his Cold War policies, how he kept the U.S. out of "hot" wars, presided over a boom of economic growth, and took some of the first, perhaps somewhat tentative, steps toward recognizing the civil rights of Blacks and other minorities, since the failed efforts of Reconstruction. 

What the authors of this work discovered in examining other studies of Eisenhower's life was that little or no account was give of his religious faith, a neglect that flies in the face of an increasingly regular, yet not publicized pattern of religious practice, interactions and expressions of faith with religious figures from Billy Graham to Pope John XXIII, the testimony of his pastors, and a number of public acts and utterances. Furthermore, these patterns continued after his presidency up to the time of his death in 1969.

The authors trace Eisenhower's religious journey. He was born of parents deeply devoted to a branch of the Brethren in Christ that moved to Kansas. Later they left this group, and Ida, his mother was especially devoted to the Jehovah's Witnesses. While not entirely orthodox, what marked his upbringing was a strong pattern of Bible-reading and piety, as well as involvement in pacifist religious groups.

Ike broke with his parents in going to West Point and entering the military. And we hear relatively little of his religious faith during his military career, even when he lost his son "Icky," an event that strained his marriage. Only in World War II do we find him sharing prayers and expressing "There is nothing we could do but pray, desperately." From here on, Ike expresses more of his faith publicly, though reticently, including contributing the words of "Lead, Kindly Light" to a prayerbook for servicemen in Korea, and more about the connections between America's religious faith and democracy.

As was the case with so many others, a key influence in his life was the ministry, and in particular, personal conversations with Billy Graham in early 1952. Graham encouraged Eisenhower's church attendance, referring him to the ministry of Dr. Ed Elson at National Presbyterian Church. Eisenhower had previous associations with Elson as a chaplain with the military. One of the things that stands out is that Eisenhower did not join the church, including being baptized (the only President to be baptized in office) until after the beginning of his presidency. His baptism was a private affair, witnessed by an intimate circle, and he was upset when word of his joining the church leaked to the press. He did not want attention called to his attendance, but both Elson, and his pastors at the Presbyterian Church in Gettysburg, where the Eisenhowers owned a farm, reported Eisenhower attended regularly, and frequently engaged in discussions of the content of sermons, They also quietly contributed monetarily and in other ways to the ministry of their churches.

The other part of Eisenhower's faith focused on in the book were his ideas about the importance of religious faith, whether Christian or not, to America's response to the atheist communist threat. He saw the fundamental difference between the two countries to be spiritual and not simply economic or political, which drove things like his support for the U. S. Information Agency. He publicly encouraged religious worship, began the practice of National Prayer Breakfasts, and served during a period when America's attendance at religious services was at a peak. The authors highlight how religious conviction informed Eisenhower's efforts with religious leaders across racial divides to break down segregation, albeit far more gradually than civil rights leaders would wish.

The latter part of the book describes Eisenhower's post-presidency, marked with continued involvement with his church, even as his health declined. During his final hospitalization, he invited Billy Graham to share the scriptures of how he might be sure of his salvation. At the end of the conversation, he said, "Thank you, I'm ready." One of the last things he said to his family was, "I want to go. God take me." He died shortly after.

Two of the authors (Sears and Osten) are associated with a conservative religious liberty organization, so I found myself reading with a certain skepticism. However, I thought that on the whole, they offered a balanced account of Eisenhower's life, and made a case for the genuineness of Eisenhower's Christian faith. They don't gloss over his mother's involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses, the lack of religious expression through his early career, including his marriage difficulties with Mamie (they discount the possibility of the Kay Summersby affair, although evidence exists for an emotional, but unconsummated affair between them). The fact that Eisenhower waits until after election to be baptized and join his church argues strongly for his not using religious affiliation for political ends, as well as the persistence of his religious practice for the remainder of his life. It also struck me that one may see evidence of religious principles in his policies without engaging in culture wars or litmus tests.

If I might raise any issue, it would be with what seemed an uncritical account of a "God and country" vision and the language of civil religion that seems to appropriate religious faith to national aims (e.g. fighting Communism) that does not seem to recognize a kingdom that transcends national borders. I grew up internalizing that vision and it wasn't until I began to truly understand God's love for the world, and the priority allegiance of the Christian to God's kingdom purposes, that I began to recognize the danger of "God and country" language. In Eisenhower's administration, this was not egregious. Eisenhower acknowledged God's providence, and supported the language of "under God" in the pledge of allegiance, acknowledging that God, not the state was ultimate. Yet it is so easy to turn this to an ideology of God existing to sustain American greatness, and the manipulation of religion for political ends.

The value of this work is that it redresses a balance in documenting the religious faith of Eisenhower, that has been neglected in other accounts. The account actually suggests that there is further work to be done in studying Eisenhower's faith. The writers establish that Eisenhower was deeply thoughtful about his faith and sought to act upon that in his presidential leadership. Others around him, like John Foster Dulles, and George Kennan, also had religiously informed visions of the world. It also seems that Eisenhower was thoughtful about how one exercises religious belief in a pluralistic society and might well be studied for this. Lastly, one wonders how the pacifism of his upbringing and his religious faith may have informed his farewell address warning of the "military-industrial complex."  The authors have made a case that far more research in this aspect of Eisenhower's life and leadership is well-warranted.

________________________________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly good read on this American hero, but underdeveloped

As one of the greatest generals and presidents of the 20th century, Dwight D. Eisenhower was uniquely qualified to lead our nation through WWII, the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement. But his extraordinary life wasn’t without its heartaches and headaches, of which he had more than his share. Both would challenge his emotional and mental endurance – and his faith in God.

From the loss of his infant son, Icky, which changed “Ike’s character forever” (page 62); nearly losing his beloved wife, Mamie, to a grave illness, to the “daily confrontations” with fellow hero Gen. Douglas McArthur (page 83), these trials would further test his mettle, both as a military expert and as a human being.

Published by Baker Books, “The Soul of an American President: The Untold Story of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Faith,” by Alan Sears and Craig Osten with Ryan Cole, looks at the one aspect of this American hero’s life that has been virtually ignored by other biographers: his faith – especially when faced with the most important decisions of his life and career that would eventually change the course of history for the better.

When I saw this book was one of the new releases to be reviewed, I jumped at the chance. As a long-time admirer of President Eisenhower, I was intrigued by what degree his faith would have played in his life and career. There were chapters in the book I thoroughly enjoyed, learning aspects of his incredible life I didn’t know before.

However, as much as I enjoyed reading certain chapters, I found the book to be sorely underdeveloped, which was very disappointing to me – especially after being thrilled to find out Ike knew the Lord personally. One chapter in particular that fell short for me was the one about his infant, Icky (page 53-62), which was a pivotal moment in his life and career.

Although the authors did note that, “If the couple turned to religion or faith in this time of deepest sorrow, they kept it to themselves (page 62),” it seemed like this life-altering part of his life was abruptly dropped and not further investigated – especially with living relatives.

Another aspect of the book that was underdeveloped was the role his faith played in his military career, of which both WW I and II, as well as the Cold War, that would have been significant in either shaping or hindering his faith in the Lord – although the authors noted his faith during this time “remained unclear (page 106).” It appeared he was more vocal and active with his faith during his post-military years (although he did contribute to a soldier’s prayer book).

While reading about his faith was tremendously encouraging, the authors also relied too much on other sources for their insights on Ike’s faith instead of first-hand accounts, namely from Ike’s own grandson, Dwight David Eisenhower, who is still alive. He would have likely known more than anyone about his legendary grandfather’s faith (unless he declined to be interviewed).

Overall, while I was disappointed that this book wasn’t developed more – especially considering Ike, like the late great Ronald Reagan, was one of only a few statesmen to express his faith – this read would still benefit other readers who need to know about the faith of our 34th president, who was one of the greatest generals, presidents and American heroes to ever walk this earth.

I (very reluctantly) gave this book a 3 out of 5 stars.

Full disclosure: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, I received this book free through the Baker Books Bloggers Program. My opinions are my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review.

© 2019 by Doug S., M.A.

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was curious to read a new historical nonfiction release (a genre I haven't read recently),  The Soul of an American President  by Alan Sears and Craig Osten with Ryan Cole. These "students of history" aim to explore an aspect of Dwight D. Eisenhower's life supposedly "untold" in other biographies: his faith. While I acknowledge the intent, I was very underwhelmed by this book.

The Soul of an American President suffers from lack of focused content and clunky writing. Various typos (for instance, the frequent, incorrect use of "beside" instead of "besides") aside, this book felt a mish-mash of myriad quotes and often lengthy excerpts from speeches, letters, and other biographers, and there were times I needed to re-read sentences to understand them. More significantly, though, this book didn't have as much detail on Eisenhower's faith as one would expect: especially in the first half, it is "Ike's" family's religious history, his personal life, and his military and political career that is discussed, with only brief paragraphs mentioning his faith, and even then only vaguely or suppositionally; in the second half of the book, which covers his presidency and beyond, there are more concrete details and quotes on the matters of faith and religion, as apparently he became more outspoken on religious and moral aspects (and also started attending church).

After reading The Soul of an American President, I have a greater understanding and appreciation of Dwight D. Eisenhower's life and personal faith. He undoubtedly was a significant player in American history, not only during his military career, but also as president, with various religious, moral, and civil rights influences and initiatives. However, I can't say The Soul of an American President stood out as the "untold story" of Eisenhower's faith, perhaps simply because there's not that much to the story—even if the authors suppose there is.

Disclaimer: This book was received for free from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for my honest review.  Note as with all reviews and references, I do not necessarily agree with (or am even aware of) any or all of the beliefs, views, etc. of the author; please read my disclaimer here.

[Benjamin Liles · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do you start off talking about the faith of the leader of the free world? What would you say about a man who's silent prayers, to be the man in the position of being President over the United States? Dwight D. Eisenhower, also known as Ike, was such a man. However, before he became President of America, Eisenhower served as "a five-star general during World War II and also as supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe" (from Wikipedia).

Apparently, even in his lifetime, having learned to be a man of impeccable faith from his parents he kept up a life of prayer from his earliest days. I have to say of this work of Sears, Osten and Cole for "The Soul of an American President" is a good read. Not only is it a "good" read you learn quite a bit of this man's life. Apparently, his predecessors -- parents and grandparents -- were from a group of Anabaptists. The Eisenhauers would eventually change their last name to what we know today, Eisenhower.

Being part of such a spiritual and religious community Dwight was brought up to being more than a man of faith but also a man of prayer. Despite this and the leanings to not go to war, Dwight D. Eisenhower led the charge along with other like-minded Americans to help our friends and allies in war-torn Europe. So, do I find the authors of this book on the life of Ike did a great job in penning this book? Hands down!

My best advice is to go grab a copy of this remarkable book about a truly remarkable man. During his presidency he enacted the first significant civil rights legislation, championed the formation of the interstate highway system, ended the Korean war conflict with threat of nuclear war, deterred conflicts with the Communist Bloc through his New Look Policy, admitted Alaska and Hawaii as 49th and 50th States of America, and is regarded as one of the greatest presidents of the United States.

So, yes, while I advocate heartily in favor of this book, I also ask that those who do so take a good look at why America is known as a Christian nation. It isn't known as that simply because of what Eisenhower accomplished, but also because of how many men and women gave their lives in sacrifice to make sure a people could live and prosper as well as possible under Christ's name.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Baker Books for a fair and honest review.

[Aurelia Mast-glick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was Dwight's faith in God real or was it political? That is the question this book works to answer. Since I knew basically nothing about Dwight Eisenhower, this book was interesting to me in just hearing about his life and who he was.

Some of his previous biographers wanted to say that his faith was only political because he didn't get vocal about his faith until he was the President. Dwight was the only President to be baptized while President. He also joined a church for the first time after he was President. He chose to wait until after he was President because he didn't want people to think that it was for political purposes.

One of the most fascinating things I learned in this book was that Dwight or Ike as he was called, was born into an Anabaptist family. His grandpa was a minister in the River Brethren church in Abilene, Kansas. Dwight's own parents left the River Brethren and his mom became a pretty staunch Jehovah's Witness, though it wasn't called that yet when she joined. She was very saddened by the choice Dwight made to make the military his career since she was a strong pacifist. I just found that information very intriguing being Anabaptist myself.

I enjoyed the book a lot. I found it refreshing to read about a President with a strong faith base who spoke out boldly for strong religious values. He had a tough job to do becoming President during the Cold War and also during the start of the Civil Rights movement. While he was a strong supporter of equal rights for all, he also recognized that change wasn't going to happen successfully as a result of laws being put into place. More was needed. He was a faithful church attender wherever he went as long as he was physically able.

The only negative critique I would have of the book is the authors could almost be seen as having tried too hard to persuade. You know how when you feel passionate about something and you push your point so hard, it starts to feel like maybe there's a cover-up or some untruth here, that could about happen with this book. I don't feel like there is any kind of cover-up. I think the authors sincerely wanted to know the answer and went digging to find all the information they could about Dwight and his faith and then laid the information out accurately in the pages of this book. Just something I noticed as I thought about the book.

I received this book from Baker Books and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Lady Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an advance copy of this book.

Historians have significantly analyzed evidence related to President Eisenhower's life and career. The Soul of an American President: The Untold Story of Dwight D. Eisenhower's Faith instead narrowly examines President Eisenhower's spiritual formation, specifically his genuine transition to deep, personal faith later in life.

While the first half of the book provided a nice, high-level biographical overview of President Eisenhower's life without trying to duplicate exhaustive work already published, I thought that Sears and Osten began their real story with chapter nine, "Spiritual Renewal."

I am fascinated by President Eisenhower's later in life spiritual renewal, which could be considered contrarian when normed with seniors who experienced far less trauma than President Eisenhower become embittered by life leave their faith. I learned many new things from Sears and Osten regarding President Eisenhower's integrity, desire to be a faithful Christian, understanding that the United States needed spiritual renewal after WWII, recognition that as President he was called to be a role model, and the impact of his faith on his policy perspective.

I particularly found President Eisenhower's dedication to regular church attendance and membership, given some of the logistical and security challenges involved, to be admirable. Band of Brothers fans will smile at President Eisenhower's reliance on the 101st Airborne Division to protect "The Little Rock Nine" when integrating Little Rock public schools during the Civil Rights Movement. I was also intrigued by President Eisenhower's role behind placing the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and "In God We Trust" on U.S. currency during the 50s, perhaps inadvertently becoming a catalyst for atheist activism. I almost became teary when reading that President Eisenhower requested that he be buried in the same standard, government issued casket in which service members under his command were buried.

Sears and Osten elected to remain silent on President Eisenhower's relationship with Kay Summersby, Eisenhower's WWII driver. They cited her book, Eisenhower Was My Boss, as a reference in Chapter 7 connected to prayer before D-Day, regarding her as a credible witness. However, curiously they ignore her book, Past Forgetting: My Love Affair with Dwight D. Eisenhower. Although historians are not unified regarding the nature of their relationship and President Eisenhower's spiritual renewal occured years later, omitting even the mention of this well-known relationship in my view historically weakens The Soul of an American President: The Untold Story of Dwight D. Eisenhower's Faith.

Overall, Sears and Osten gave readers a gift in the new insights they provided to President Eisenhower's spiritual life, his later in life spiritual renewal, and how with this renewal he ceased compartmentalizing his faith -- instead allowing it to permeate every aspect of his life. I didn't know much about President Eisenhower before I read their book and, with admiration, I'm now interested in learning more.

[Mark Moland · Rating 4 out of 5]

In “The Soul of an American President,” Sears and Osten aspire to demonstrate that President Eisenhower’s faith was genuine and not a keen political tactic as some historians have suggested. Sears and Osteen provide ample evidence of Eisnehower’s public statements related to his faith during his presidency and his later life. To establish Ike’s faith foundations, the authors explore the roots of faith in his family back to the Reformation and discuss the tension between Ike’s choice to pursue a military career and his mother’s embrace of Jehovah’s Witness pacifism.

The authors succeed in presenting a portrait of an American president grappling with his faith, family, and the future of his nation. The authors well portray the faith struggles in family with the loss of a young child as well as how grief can shape one’s relationships. The authors also illustrate Ike’s discernment of the spiritual needs of the nation after two world wars as he seeks to understand how to address these needs as president.

While the authors are earnest in their efforts to demonstrate Ike’s faith and discuss challenges to their thesis, this work does not succeed in being the definitive answer to questions about the genuineness of Ike’s faith. As one who was wanting to be persuaded, I find that the argument fell short. Several moments where the authors asserted that a prayer or speech demonstrated clear connections to Christian theological traditions, I found that a reading of the speech as a statement of civic religious sentiments would be equally plausible. Since Ike and most of those who knew him intimately are deceased, we must grapple with the limited evidence we have. Much like efforts to discern the faith of Abraham Lincoln, our reading of the record may reflect our own convictions rather than a discerning of those of the subject.

For the convinced and unconvinced, this is a worthwhile read that illustrates the challenges in discerning and exploring the faith of our public leaders.

I received an advance copy of this book from Baker Publishing Group. The views expressed here are my own.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I’ve been trying to read more nonfiction lately, especially about people or events in history, so when Baker offered this book, I decided to read it. The book mainly focuses on, as the title suggests, the path of Eisenhower’s faith through his life. I appreciated that the authors mentioned straight away that they weren’t looking to glorify Eisenhower, but to portray his journey as realistically as possible, flaws and all. Mainly, they seemed concerned with combating the image of Eisenhower as irreligious or secular, so a great deal of time was spent showing the many ways Eisenhower showed his faith in his talks, writings, and actions.

I didn’t know much about Eisenhower before reading this book, so there was tons of information that I learned, such as his role in World War II and Operation Overlord. Also interesting was his early life and his life at the beginning of his presidency when he was baptized. I was hoping for a little more coverage of Eisenhower’s presidential policies and decisions; the authors covered many, mostly positive, but I felt as if the majority of his second term was swept by or summarized too broadly. It also felt a bit as if the authors were picking and choosing what they wanted to highlight; I can’t fault them for that because it’s nonfiction and they picked the focus, so of course they would pick to explain more in detail what fits best with what they want to say, but I still hoped for more detail.

This book is about Eisenhower’s faith, and that’s what it gives you. I learned a lot about him and the majority of the book was interesting, though towards the end I started to skim a little. I enjoyed most the descriptions of his life and actions up through World War II (my favorite time period to read about!), and overall I learned more about Eisenhower, his faith, and the things he did and tried to do to help America than I ever knew before (admittedly, very little).

[Emily P · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Soul of an American President" is a fact filled book of Dwight D. Eisenhower's life, from his humble beginnings to his rise to leadership in several World Wars. The book's heart ties together the former President's faith journey with his life, through good times and bad.

Raised in a household steeped in the Jehovah's Witness movement, Ike learned he didn't share all the same ideas as his mother and father, yet continued to seek after what he did personally believe. He was a voracious reader of Scripture and often wrote eloquent prayers when asked to contribute to devotionals for the military.

Eisenhower was a committed, persistent person who brought change to the world when he was given the opportunity. The reader can observe that even in troubled times, his struggles would be ones that brought him to a greater understanding of how one's life (and faith) affects others. God orchestrates our steps, and this was illustrated well in Ike's life.

Watching Ike's life move from a low level Army post to others with more responsibility that eventually led him on to the Presidency, "The Soul of an American President" was an informative read. I enjoyed it immensely and read it quite quickly. I would liken the book to watching a few hours of the History Channel, except with a more spiritual focus. It appears to the reader that Ike felt that his faith was a personal issue, yet felt compelled as he cemented his leadership abilities to not fear sharing that faith with others. Little known facts are also interwoven about our nation's 34th President.

This would make a great book for a book club to read together, or for several friends interested in history and the Presidents' lives. I was excited to receive an advanced reader copy from Baker Publishing Group and chose to review. All opinions are my own.

[W. Derek Atkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Little-Known Story of Ike’s Faith

I bought this book on the recommendation of a friend, and I was not disappointed. As the authors note in their epilogue, many books have been written about Dwight Eisenhower, and have examined the many different dimensions of his life (including even his love of golf), but almost no attention has been focused on Eisenhower’s faith. This book helps to redress this imbalance.

This is a well-researched book, and does an excellent job of tracing Eisenhower’s faith journey, beginning with the spiritual formation he received from his Jehovah’s Witness mother to his mature Presbyterian faith as President. Not only does this book chronicle Eisenhower’s Christian pilgrimage, it also illustrates how his Christian faith deeply informed his decisions and policies as President of the United States during the 1950s.

In these politically-charged times, I especially recommend the chapter “Spiritual Weapons for Civil Rights,” which details how Eisenhower’s faith led him to recognize that Civil Rights for African-Americans (and by extension for all races) was a deeply moral issue, a realization that led him to take concrete steps towards realizing the Declaration of Independence’s original promise of equality for all people.

I was also fascinated by Eisenhower’s relationship with Billy Graham and the pastors of the churches that he regularly attended.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in Dwight Eisenhower’s life, or anyone who wants to learn more about the role that religion played during the testing days of the 1950s.

[Fay Jacobsohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many books have been written about Dwight D. Eisenhower, however, there is some controversy regarding his faith. Since there are times when he did not seem to say anything or demonstrate his faith until after his presidency, some authors have implied he used it as a tool to win the polls. This book gives a perspective of the president from the viewpoint of his faith and starts back several generations before he was born throughout his lifetime.

I have to admit I struggled to get through much of this book. Although I love history it was laborious reading about his military years and some of the politics involved. It became more interesting as his faith became more alive and vocal.

Although Dwight D. Eisenhower did not show a lot of his faith during his military years, it is evident that he prayed hard at times and that he had a reawakening or change in his faith when he became president. His faith was definitely real during that time as this book shows, not a ploy as so many authors attest.

This is a good book on the faith of Dwight D. Eisenhower. It is refreshing to read of the ways God was preparing him to be president and of his profound faith that continued even after the presidency.

(Please Note: While I received an e-copy of this book to review by Baker Publishing Group, the opinions expressed are my own.)

[Travis Heystek · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Soul of an American President” by Alan Sears and Craig Osten (with Ryan Cole)

Admittedly, this book probably won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Ike is one of the President’s I never felt I knew enough about. I knew he was a great General, but I didn’t know all it took for him to get there. I had seem or heard him portrayed in movies and documentaries, but I’d never taken time to “get to know the man.”
As a pastor, this book seem like a great place for me to start. This book seems to take an honest look at Eisenhower’s faith. It doesn’t candy coat his lack of faith at times, and it doesn’t seem to overstate his faith later in life. I enjoyed learning more about Ike’s early years, and was interested that he came from a family with a pacifist background.
My biggest regret with this book was the little bit of time shared during his military career during WWII. I enjoy reading about WWII, but this book didn’t go real deep there. In fairness, this book’s focus is Eisenhower’s faith, so I can understand why.
Overall I give this book 4 stars. Anyone who enjoys biographies about Christian leaders in the secular world, or a look behind the scenes of American presidents will likely enjoy this book. If you don’t like biographies or the political world you may not enjoy this book.

[Deborah Rotman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a soft goal of reading the biographies of U.S. presidents so I was happy to receive an advance copy of "The Soul of an American President" from the Baker Publishing Group and to learn about the faith of President Eisenhower.

I especially appreciated the epilogue by Alan Sears that explains how he and Craig Osten came to examine this little-known aspect of "Ike".

Eisenhower's core conviction of the dignity of each individual resonates more than ever. His acknowledgement and experience of human depravity and evil, especially at the Ohrdruf concentration camp, shook him to his core. As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day assault of Nazi-occupied France of which Eisenhower was the Supreme Commander of European Operations, we do well to acknowledge in the words of a hymn sang at his funeral, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" that "And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us." I am so thankful that in the sovereignty of God, Eisenhower rose to the challenge of those terrible war years and that his faith in Jesus Christ was confirmed and established in the last decades of his life.

[Evelyn Lilyana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never read presidential biographies but I wanted to expand my reading and decided to give this one a try. I find political biographies extremely boring which is why I always avoid them but this one was very interesting. I didn't know more about Eisenhower than what I learned in school and I was unaware that he was Christian.

I appreciate the extensive historical research that went into this biography and all the cited sources. The authors did a great job of compiling all the information about Eisenhower's family and the deep roots of his faith.

This book delves into the life of the 34th president and how his familial's religious devotion made an impact in his life and in turn, an impact in the way that he governed. His presidency is marked by his moral convictions. The US was influenced by his right judgments and his personal faith was influenced by his experience in the White House.

I like that this biography didn't have to be super long (just a little over 200 pages) to say everything that needs to be said about Eisenhower's faith and presidency. I highly recommend to those who enjoy this type of book.

I received a copy of this book from Baker in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

[Kelly Bosch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been interested in everything U.S. Presidential since my childhood. When I heard about this book, I jumped at the chance to read it. It surprised me with its relevance and info about the heart of President Eisenhower.

The Soul of An American President is a fascinating portrait of not just the faith of President Eisenhower, but the events that made him the man we remember. For me, it was a bit of a slow burn as it takes a bit to get to the heart of the man. It's worth it as you uncover the General who became a Peacemaker.

I was struck by how Eisenhower's America is very similar to America today. We are a nation seeking understanding, purpose, and reconciliation. We are technologically advanced, yet lacking true connection. Not only is this book a great look at a good man, but an exploration of how we can find common ground.

I will continue to recommend this book to those interested in history, politics, faith, and how the past can help us be better versions of ourselves in the ways that matter most.

While I did receive a copy of the book from the publisher, the words are my own. No one tells me what to think. ;)

[Michelle Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reviewer's copy of this book, which is a brief telling of the faith that led to many of the decisions made by Eisenhower before and during his presidency.

The story is a great book, well written, and easy to read. As an editor by trade, I was relieved to finally read a book without any grammatical or spelling errors. If there were any, they were insignificant enough as to go unnoticed.

I appreciated the history that was included in the book and the religious background of Ike and Mamie's families. The story moved along smoothly until the last two chapters. The last two chapters talked more of the Eisenhowers' involvement in the church post-presidency, and less about their faith or their beliefs. Of course faith would naturally lead to involvement, but involvement does not prove faith.

This is a great story for anyone interested in getting a good base knowledge of Eisenhower, and I believe a library of such a short story about all the American presidents would benefit all American citizens in that it would give us a way to understand the policies, decisions, and statements they made before and during their time in office.

[Zacarias Rivera, Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't recall when was the last time I read a book about a US president. When I was introduced to this book, on the spiritual life of one of our most influential presidents, I couldn't resist reading it. This book gives us an in-depth analysis of who Eisenhower was as a president who had a strong faith and was not ashamed of sharing it.

The book chronicles the upbringing of this president, how he rose through the ranks to be a general, an emancipator of those imprisoned by the Nazis, to eventually become the president of our nation.

The authors provide sufficient evidence to support their claim that Eisenhower was a committed Christian, a man who had submitted his life to the Lord. They also provide and mention the claims of those with an opposing viewpoint.

This book is well-balanced in arguing that Eisenhower was a man of faith. Through letters, speeches, and others as witnesses, we read the evidence that unequivocally demonstrates that Eisenhower was saved, and wasn't using Christianity as a ploy to earn votes.

I highly recommend it to anyone who would like to learn more about Eisenhower's faith, and how his faith impacted many of the decisions he had to make.

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so thankful for this book. It truly helped me rethink the depth of my own faith. Though many may argue that President Eisenhower used his faith to solely assist in political gain; Sears is able to prove with a review of many political documents, testimonies, and letters that His faith was genuine. I believe his experiences both at war and peace time, shaped his faith tremendously. I loved hearing how President Eisenhower sought wisdom through prayer, reading God’s word, and religious leaders. We see his true humble spirit as he was buried in the same casket his soldiers utilized- an eighty dollar government issue casket.

Unfortunately, Eisenhower’s words regarding the Soviet Union speak more of our current culture than any I’ve heard in a long time- “They have no use for religion. They silence the church bells.”

I received an advanced copy of this book.

[Ashlie Hogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite genres of literature are memoirs, biographies, and autobiographies. I have never read a book about President Eisenhower and I found this one quite intriguing.
I felt like the authors did a good job of thoroughly researching the subject of the book and presenting thoughtful sources that brought out interesting opinions about the president.
I am not someone who tends to try and figure out someone’s faith or their background that may have brought them to their faith. I truly believe that a person’s faith is there own, and it is difficult to draw conclusions without knowing the person first hand. The authors did a great job of drawing a picture of Ike’s life, history, family background, and the faith that seemed vital to him- all be it complicated due to his family’s religious history.
I was given an advanced copy of the book in order to offer my truthful thoughts and opinions.

[Lindsay Bryant · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would actually give this a 3.5 stars if I could. This book started out good and got a bit boring and then ended well. Overall, I am so glad I read this book, and I am also glad that we finally have a book about the great faith of a great man. I truly believe the authors conveyed that Ike really was a man of deeply rooted faith, and not just a man of political faith. I was thoroughly intrigued to see just how his faith influenced all of his decisions that we can now see the effects of even decades later. One of the most amazing things that I read was how poignantly President Eisenhower described how our nation would be without the foundation of faith, and incredulously those proclamations have come true. The speeches he gave and prayers he prayed are ones we still desperately need to hear today in 2019. I would recommend this book.

I was given and advanced copy to read and review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Lisa P Clement · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am always very interested in biographies of presidents and I was excited to receive and advanced copy from the publisher.
Being a person of faith myself I was very intrigued by the title of this book. Living in a time today where there is so much going on about religious freedoms and such an attack on the Christian Faith I thought this book was timely.
It was very interesting to see how the story of faith played out in Ike’s life. Little did he understand the journey he was on, that he wasn’t always pleased with, was leading him to the place he would be used in such a great way.
The historical information is so interesting. So many write about him but leave out what I believe was most important to him. His faith is where his wisdom and guidance came from. He is an example we should all consider following when it comes to his faith.
This is a book I will highly recommend.

[Carolyn Harper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m torn about this book. The documentation is excellent and the narrative is easy to read and interesting. While I did not come away from this book questioning the authenticity of Eisenhower’s faith, because I believe he was sincere in his beliefs, I felt that the authors stretched a bit to make their point, especially about some of the evidence early in Ike’s career. It felt like they were trying too hard to convince readers of his faith. Some of their examples could be argued either way—for a sincere believer or a canny politician who knew the buzzwords to use in speeches—yet they stated these were definitive examples. For a sympathetic audience who want to believe in Eisenhower’s lifelong deep faith, this is a great book. For someone who takes a more broad-minded approach, parts of this book feel forced. I received an advance copy of this book.

[Oak · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Soul of an American President: The Untold Story of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Faith is a well-researched, thorough book written by Alan Sears and Craig Osten (with Ryan Cole). There are many books written about Eisenhower, but few cover his faith in depth. The Soul of an American President shows the major role that Eisenhower’s faith played in his presidency.

Faith affects so many factors; it influences the decisions a person makes. Eisenhower’s faith is a testament to his character. Before reading this book, I knew various things about Eisenhower’s life and career, but very little about his personal convictions. I loved learning more about Eisenhower’s faith and life. I even ended up giving this book to someone as a gift! The Soul of an American President makes me want to read more books about Eisenhower.

I received this book for review.