Dwight D. Eisenhower: Soldier of Democracy

by Kenneth Sydney Davis, Dwight David Eisenhower

This work is a first hand account of Eisenhower from his early years in Texas through to his meteoric rise as war leader and statesman in WW2. An intimate look is also made into his deeply held sense of values that later helped him become president.

576 pages, Hardcover

First published October 28, 1945

Reviews

[Dave Franklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kenneth S. Davis's “Soldier of Democracy” provides a pre-presidential portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Davis chronicles Eisenhower’s childhood in Abilene, Kansas and the family influences that shaped his character. Davis paints a sympathetic sketch that focuses on Eisenhower’s humility, intelligence and essential goodness.

Davis spends more than 100 pages describing incidents in Ike’s childhood, it is perhaps excessive, but central to his thesis that family and community made the man. In addition, Davis’s narrative interestingly demonstrates the almost inconceivable technological shifts that Ike witnessed between his birth in 1890 until the successful prosecution of the American war effort in Europe.

From the standpoint of military history, recent accounts of the conflict are more edifying. That said, Davis has given a balanced and well-rounded account of a great American.

[Stephan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anything, and everything you ever wanted to know about Eisenhower prior to Presidency.