DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
1953 - 1961
Arizona Timeline
1953 - Davis Dam is completed on the Colorado River creating Lake Mohave.
1955 - Kingman's Front Street was designated Andy Devine Avenue in honor of the actor who grew up in Kingman.
1960 - Mining sees some resurgence in Mohave County when the Duval Mining Corporation opens an open pit copper mining operation in Mineral Park.
1960 - Arizona population exceeds 1 million.
Dwight David Eisenhower was
born in Denison, Texas, in 1890.
The family moved to Abilene,
Kansas, when he was very young.
He graduated from Abilene High
School, and in 1910 received an
appointment to West Point, from
which he graduated in 1915.
During and after WWI, he was
stationed in the United States. At
Fort Sam Houston he met Mamie
Doud and they were married in
Denver in 1916.
Mamie Doud Eisenhower was
born in Boone, Iowa, in 1896.
Her family moved to Denver,
when she was seven. While on a
visit to San Antonio, she met
Dwight Eisenhower and they
married in 1916. Their first child
died of scarlet fever in 1921.
Their second child, John, was
born in 1922. He became a career
army officer, like his father.
President Dwight Eisenhower served in the Philippines from 1935 to 1939. In World War II, he was placed in command of the invasion of North
Africa, and in 1944 was made Supreme Allied Commander for the invasion of Europe. He was Army Chief of Staff until 1948, when he became
president of Columbia University. He commanded NATO forces in Europe from 1950 to 1952, was elected President in 1952 and served two terms.
Though he retained most Fair Deal programs, he stressed fiscal responsibility in domestic affairs. To enforce court- ordered school integration, he sent the
National Guard to Little Rock, Arkansas. On returning to private life, he assumed the role of elder statesman. He died in Washington, D. C. In 1969.
As a military family, the Eisenhowers moved often and Mamie was an efficient officer's spouse. She traveled with “ Ike” as he campaigned for the
presidency. As First Lady, she was active in the effort to build Knollwood, the first retirement home for military widows. After retirement, she was
instrumental in President Johnson's decision to extend civil service protection to presidential widows. She died in Washington, D. C. In 1979.
Mohave Museum - U.S. Presidents and the History of Arizona
