Mamie Eisenhower
Mamie Eisenhower | |
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Jacqueline Kennedy | |
Personal details | |
Born | November 14, 1896 Boone, Iowa, U.S. |
Died | November 1, 1979 Washington, D.C., U.S. | (aged 82)
Resting place | Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | |
Children |
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Signature | |
Mary Geneva "Mamie" Eisenhower (née Doud; November 14, 1896 – November 1, 1979) was the first lady of the United States from 1953 to 1961 as the wife of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Born in Boone, Iowa, she was raised in a wealthy household in Colorado. She married Eisenhower, then a lieutenant in the United States Army, in 1916. She kept house and served as hostess for military officers as they moved between various postings in the United States, Panama, the Philippines, and France. Their relationship was complicated by his regular absences on duty and by the death of their firstborn son at the age of three. She became a prominent figure during World War II as General Eisenhower's wife.
As first lady, Eisenhower was given near total control over the expenses and scheduling of the
Early life
Mary Geneva "Mamie" Doud was born in Boone, Iowa, as the second child of
Mamie had three sisters: her older sister, Eleanor Carlson Doud, and her two younger sisters, Eda Mae Doud and Mabel Frances "Mike" Doud.
Marriage and family
Marriage
Doud had many suitors, but she began courting Dwight D. "Ike" Eisenhower in 1915, who at the time was a
Mamie's father agreed to the marriage on the condition that Eisenhower did not enter the Army Air Service, as he considered it too dangerous.[1] Apprehension of American entry into World War I accelerated their plans to wed, and they were married at the Doud family's home in Denver on July 1, 1916. They went on honeymoon and visited Ike's parents in Abilene, Kansas, before returning to Fort Sam Houston, where Ike was stationed.[7] Mamie also met Ike's brother, Milton S. Eisenhower, who became a close friend to Mamie.[14]
Army wife
Eisenhower lived the life of an army wife over the following years, continually moving as her husband was stationed at different posts. Over the course of Ike's 37 years in the military, they lived in 33 different homes. During some of these postings, she participated in community projects, such as the establishment of a hospital in Panama.[11] Their military housing was often meager, and she was tasked with furnishing their temporary homes and making them livable.[15] The Eisenhowers regularly entertained wherever they lived, and their home came to be known as "Club Eisenhower". Mamie often attended card parties and luncheons with officers' wives,[10] befriending many of them, but had little patience for the gossip and intrigue that sometimes took place, refusing to take part in it.[16]
Eisenhower no longer had the comforts that she had grown accustomed to in childhood. They had to survive on Ike's military pay and occasional support from Mamie's father. Ike and Mamie were often both physically and emotionally distant from each other, and Mamie experienced bouts of depression throughout her time as an army wife.[1] She had to grow accustomed to fear and loneliness during periods of separation while her husband was traveling for the army, and Ike once told her that his duty would "always come first".[17]
The Eisenhowers had two sons. Their first, Doud Dwight "Icky" Eisenhower, was born on September 24, 1917. Having to care for him on her own despite her weak health, Mamie worked herself to exhaustion. Icky died of
In 1922, Ike was stationed in Panama, and Mamie struggled in the jungle environment. They went to Denver shortly before John's birth, and Mamie stayed behind after Ike returned to Panama. She rejoined him in Panama two months later, accompanied by a nurse the family had hired to help raise John.[20] On the advice of the wife of General Fox Conner, Mamie took interest in Ike's career and presented herself as a supportive military wife, strengthening their relationship.[1] In 1928, she encouraged her husband to take a position in Paris instead of in the War Department.[21] She hosted increasingly important guests as her husband's military career progressed. When Ike was appointed as aide to General Douglas MacArthur in 1929, the family moved to Washington, D.C., and "Club Eisenhower" became a popular social hub for the city's elite. She initially chose to stay in Washington when her husband was stationed in the Philippines in 1935, and their relationship was strained by the time she joined him the following year.[7] The family returned to the U.S. shortly after the onset of World War II in 1939.[22]
General's wife
During World War II, while promotion and fame came to Ike, his wife lived in Washington, D.C.[23] During the three years Ike was stationed in Europe, Mamie saw him only once.[1] She made her own contributions to the war effort, volunteering anonymously for the American Women's Voluntary Services and the United Service Organizations, among other groups.[24] Mamie constantly worried about her husband's safety while he led the war effort in Europe, and was regularly accosted by reporters, causing her to lose 20 pounds during the war. Rumors emerged that she was an alcoholic, though no evidence supported this claim.[10] Her struggle was further complicated by Ike's close relationship with his chauffeur, Kay Summersby; she had become a close confidante of Ike's, and rumors emerged that he had taken her as a mistress.[25] Ike's military success and his subsequent memoirs provided the couple with financial stability after the war.[10]
After Ike became president of
First Lady of the United States
White House hostess
Eisenhower became first lady as the position first began to present a national public image.[10] She maligned the attention associated with the role, insisting that her husband was the public figure of the family and generally refusing to take on duties outside the White House.[7] She maintained distance from the press, avoiding interviews and having her secretary Mary Jane McCaffree address reporters in her stead.[26] She also declined a request to write a column for the New York Herald Tribune, and held only one press conference during her tenure.[2] She was friendly with reporters when they did interact, insisting that they address her as Mamie. Her ambivalence toward the press did not extend toward photographers, whom she readily accommodated.[25] She also wrote a personal response to every letter she received and sometimes passed on concerns the letters raised.[11]
Despite her reservations about public life, Eisenhower enjoyed her role as a hostess. During her time as first lady, she entertained many heads of state.[2] In total, she entertained about 70 official foreign visitors.[26] She was a capable hostess, having spent much of her adult life hosting as a military wife. She hosted social events full time and reveled in the pageantry associated with the presidency.[1] Eisenhower was lauded for her social prowess, greeting and shaking hands with thousands of people during her tenure as first lady. When entertaining, she prioritized comfort and popular taste over prestige. She often employed male quartets and musicians such as Fred Waring to perform for guests at the White House.[25]
Media coverage of Eisenhower was generally favorable, focusing on her personality and charm rather than politics or scandal.[26]
Managing the White House
Eisenhower took naturally to managing the White House and its staff, drawing on her experience as an army wife.[27] She had a strained relationship with the staff after taking charge, having imposed many rules to liken them to more traditional house staff and managing them closely.[7] Over time she built relationships with the staff, treating them as family and even celebrating their birthdays.[11] When their house in Gettysburg was completed in 1955, they celebrated by throwing a housewarming party for the White House staff.[28] Eisenhower typically managed the White House from her bedroom, staying in bed due to her poor health. The Eisenhowers were accustomed to splitting their responsibilities, and Mamie was given total authority over house spending and scheduling.[7] She had developed a strict frugality as an army wife, and micromanaged White House expenses.[2] She was known for her frugality, and even clipped coupons for the White House staff. Her recipe for "Mamie's million dollar fudge" was reproduced by housewives all over the country after it was published.[29]
During her tenure, she had several rooms redecorated in her favorite colors, pink and green. Eisenhower was especially active during the Christmas season, during which she had the White House heavily decorated for the occasion and bought gifts for the White House staff.[1] In 1958, she was also reported to be the first person to initiate Halloween decorations for the White House.[30] Her attempts to decorate the White House were complicated by lack of federal funding, and many of her changes depended on private donations.[31] She dedicated much time to the flower arrangements of the White House, favoring gladioli.[11] Her possessiveness over White House decor sometimes caused conflict with the staff, as it contradicted the recognized norm that the first family were residents rather than owners of the White House.[25] She held great reverence for the building, saying that she "never drove up to the south portico without a lump coming to [her] throat".[32]
When Ike had a heart attack in 1955, Mamie helped keep him warm and get him medical attention. Afterward, she regularly tended to him, limiting his work schedule, managing his diet, and taking his mail.[11] She also had a room set aside upstairs in the White House where he could practice his painting in solitude. She gave him strong emotional support at a time when he lacked the energy or desire to carry out his responsibilities as president.[1] When it was unclear whether Ike would run for reelection in 1956 due to his health, Mamie encouraged him to run.[25] She was protective of him during his periods of illness, at one point informing Pat Nixon without his knowledge that he was not healthy enough to campaign for Richard Nixon in the 1960 presidential election.[2] Mamie also had medical concerns of her own; among others, she was uneasy on her feet due to Ménière's disease, an inner-ear disorder that affects equilibrium, which fed rumors that she had a drinking problem.[33]
Politics
Eisenhower had little interest in the presidency's political aspects, and was never directly involved in her husband's decisions.[1] She entered the West Wing of the White House only four times during her tenure.[2] This lack of political involvement contributed to her subservient image that protected her from heavy media scrutiny and bolstered her popularity.[26] The main political cause that interested her was social issues, including women's issues and civil rights. She expressed a desire to see women elected to Congress, and sponsored several women's clubs. She also invited Black women to the White House, including Marian Anderson and the National Council of Negro Women.[7] Other causes she supported include soldiers' benefits, civil defense, blood drives, and the United Nations. After her husband's heart attack, she chaired fundraising for the American Heart Association. The president also consulted her at times on economic issues, having depended on her for finance throughout their marriage.[11]
Her control over the guest list and social scheduling allowed Eisenhower some degree of political influence. When organizing the 1953 annual vice president's dinner, she invited every senator except Joseph McCarthy, allowing the president to maintain distance from McCarthy without taking a stance. When the President of Haiti visited the White House, she ensured he would be received with full honors to celebrate the first Black head of state to visit the White House. Most of her influence in the Oval Office came through her social role; she made a point of knowing the president's cabinet members and support staff, and congratulated them and their wives on successes to improve morale.[11]
Eisenhower was reportedly unhappy with the idea of
Later life
In 1961, Eisenhower retired with the former president to Gettysburg, their first permanent home. They also had a retirement home in
Eisenhower remained close to the Nixon family after her tenure as first lady, and her grandson married the Nixons' daughter in 1968. She appeared in a commercial to support
Death
Eisenhower had a stroke on September 25, 1979. She was rushed to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where her husband had died a decade before. Eisenhower remained in the hospital, and on October 31, announced to her granddaughter Mary Jean that she would die the next day. She died in her sleep on the morning of November 1.[41] A memorial service was held in the Fort Myer chapel on November 5 with attendants including the Nixons, Rosalynn Carter, Senator Jacob Javits, Federal Reserve Chair Arthur F. Burns, and Eisenhower's Secret Service agents.[42] She was buried beside her husband in his hometown of Abilene, Kansas.[43]
Legacy
Eisenhower's birthplace is open to the public and operated by the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Foundation.[44] Places bearing the name Mamie Eisenhower include a park in Denver[45] and a library in the Denver suburb of Broomfield, Colorado.[46] She was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 1985.[47]
Impact on fashion
Eisenhower was known for her sense of fashion, and many women adopted her style.
Eisenhower wore a
Historical assessments
Eisenhower is remembered neither as a traditionalist like
Since 1982, Siena College Research Institute has periodically conducted a survey asking historians to assess American first ladies according to a cumulative score on their background, value to the country, intelligence, courage, accomplishments, integrity, leadership, being their own women, public image, and value to the president.[53] Eisenhower has been ranked:
In an additional question accompanying the 2014 survey, Eisenhower placed third among 20th- and 21st-century first ladies who historians felt could have done more.[53] In the 2014 survey, Eisenhower and her husband were also ranked 14th out of 39 first couples in terms of being a "power couple".[56]
References
- ^ S2CID 249333854.
- ^ ISBN 9781118732182.
- ^ Eisenhower 1996, pp. 6–7.
- ^ a b Tatanka Historical Associates (February 25, 2005). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form" (PDF). www.coloradohistory-oahp.org. Colorado Historical Society Office of Archeology & Historic Preservation. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 16, 2006. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
- ^ "Mamie Eisenhower Biography". National First Ladies Library. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
- ^ Eisenhower 1996, pp. 14–15.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4381-0815-5.
- ^ Eisenhower 1996, p. 17.
- ^ Eisenhower 1996, pp. 44–45.
- ^ a b c d e f g Schwartz Foster, Feather (2011). "Mamie Eisenhower". The First Ladies: From Martha Washington to Mamie Eisenhower. Cumberland House. pp. 151–157.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "First Lady Biography: Mamie Eisenhower". National First Ladies' Library. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
- ^ D'Este 2002, pp. 99–101.
- ^ Eisenhower 1996, p. 38.
- ^ D'Este 2002, p. 105.
- ^ Eisenhower 1996, p. 44.
- ^ D'Este 2002, p. 110.
- ^ Eisenhower 1996, p. 47.
- ^ D'Este 2002, pp. 170–172.
- ^ Goldstein, Richard (December 22, 2013). "John Eisenhower, Military Historian and Son of the President, Dies at 91". The New York Times. New York.
- ^ Eisenhower 1996, p. 80.
- ^ Eisenhower 1996, pp. 91–92.
- ^ Eisenhower 1996, pp. 157–159.
- ^ a b "Biography of Mamie Eisenhower". georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ^ D'Este 2002, p. 313.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-539285-2.
- ^ ISSN 0882-1127.
- ^ Eisenhower 1996, p. 276.
- ^ Eisenhower 1996, p. 287.
- ^ Kantrowitz, Barbara (June 13, 2007). "State of their unions: Candidates' marriages". msnbc.msn.com. Microsoft. Archived from the original on July 16, 2007. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
- ^ "What Halloween Was Like the Year You Were Born". countryliving.com. Country Living. September 29, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
- ^ Eisenhower 1996, p. 283.
- ^ Eisenhower 1996, p. 250.
- ISBN 978-0-415-93021-5.
- ^ Brower, Kate Andersen (April 6, 2016). "When first ladies meet: An awkward post-election White House tradition". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ISBN 0-698-10546-X.
- ISBN 0-8184-0472-8.
- ISBN 978-0-7385-5964-3.
- ^ Eisenhower 1996, p. 317.
- ^ "Mamie Doud Eisenhower chronology". Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
- ^ Eisenhower 1996, pp. 323–325.
- ^ "Biography: Mamie Doud Eisenhower". dwightdeisenhower.com. Dwight D. Eisenhower Foundation. Archived from the original on December 26, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
- ^ Mitchell, Henry (November 6, 1979). "A Farewell to Mamie Eisenhower". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
- ^ "Mamie Doud Eisenhower Birthplace to reopen". The Ogden Reporter. June 30, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ Gabehart, Zachary (December 7, 2021). Mamie D. Eisenhower Park Picnic Shelter (PDF) (Report). Denver City Council.
- ^ "History | City and County of Broomfield - Official Website". www.broomfield.org. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "Mamie Doud Eisenhower". Colorado Women's Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
- ^ ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- ^ a b "Mamie Eisenhower". National Museum of American History. April 4, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- ^ "Mamie Eisenhower". National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved August 26, 2008.
- ^ Jennifer Wright (March 20, 2015). "How Pink Became a Color for Girls". Racked.
- ISBN 9780393349931.
- ^ a b "Eleanor Roosevelt Retains Top Spot as America's Best First Lady Michelle Obama Enters Study as 5th, Hillary Clinton Drops to 6th Clinton Seen First Lady Most as Presidential Material; Laura Bush, Pat Nixon, Mamie Eisenhower, Bess Truman Could Have Done More in Office Eleanor & FDR Top Power Couple; Mary Drags Lincolns Down in the Ratings" (PDF). scri.siena.edu. Siena Research Institute. February 15, 2014. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Ranking America's First Ladies Eleanor Roosevelt Still #1 Abigail Adams Regains 2nd Place Hillary moves from 5 th to 4 th; Jackie Kennedy from 4th to 3rd Mary Todd Lincoln Remains in 36th" (PDF). Siena Research Institute. December 18, 2008. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
- ^ "Siena College Research Institute/C-SPAN Study of the First Ladies of the United States 2014 FirstLadies2014_Full Rankings.xls" (PDF). scri.siena.edu. Sienna College Research Institute/C-SPAN. 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
- ^ "2014 Power Couple Score" (PDF). scri.siena.edu/. Siena Research Institute/C-SPAN Study of the First Ladies of the United States. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
Bibliography
- D'Este, Carlo (2002). Eisenhower: A Soldier's Life. Henry Holt & Company. ISBN 9780805056860.
- Eisenhower, Susan (1996). Mrs. Ike: Memories and Reflections on the Life of Mamie Eisenhower. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 9780374215149.
Further reading
- Holt, Marilyn Irvin. Mamie Doud Eisenhower: The General's First Lady. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2007. OCLC 128236450
- Kimball, D. L. I Remember Mamie. Fayette, IA: Trends & Events, 1981. OCLC 8228995