The only five-star president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, came from humble beginnings to become one of the most influential people in modern history.
The name Dwight D. Eisenhower rings of Americanism at its best. We are reminded of a strapping Kansas youth, West Point discipline, Supreme Allied commander, D-Day, victory parades, "I Like Ike", President of the United States, and finally, "at ease" in retirement, and his final resting place in Abilene.
The mission of the Eisenhower Foundation, a 501(3)(c), is to honor and champion the relevance today of the life and leadership of Dwight D. Eisenhower through compelling programs and events that celebrate his legacy.
The Eisenhower Foundation partnered with the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College to present a scholarly conference focusing on present-day policy implications and the lessons we can draw from the Eisenhower Legacy for the 21st Century.
A vaccine developed by Dr. Jonas Salk is declared "safe, effective and potent" when introduced to combat the spread of poliomyelitis (polio). Eisenhower implemented a plan to produce and distribute the vaccine to children throughout the country. The number of polio cases declined from 35,000 in 1953 to just 5,600 in 1957, and then, even lower, to 161 in 1961. Today, polio has been eradicated from most of the world.
