Evening star., 1952-07-13

TeotureS WNteEs
Texas plains. He has somehow
mixed a small-townness with the
bright aura of a great hero hon.
ored by many nations. He has
somehow mixed humility with the
reassuring poise of winner.
He shows deep faith in Divine
will and in the vibrancy of democ-
racy. but he makes no pretense OF
being deeply intellectual about
either. He has charm-but not the
polish of a Roosevelt or a dash of
a Patton or the dramatic sweep of
a Macarthur. He moves with the
slower, more deliberate steps of
an organizer, strategist, unif1er.
tactful diplomat.
Greatness Thrust Upon Him.
He made history without being
propelled by one overriding am
bition. He has come far. some
times by accident, sometimes as
the result of other people. To
some degree, he has achieved
greatness, but to a larger degree
greatness has been thrust upon
him.
Personally and historically. he
is aparadox. He was cared in q
home of pacifists and led the great
est military assault in history. A
general of the Army, the highest
military rank his country can give
him, he has led 3 million men into
battle. But only IL years ago, he
hoped nobody would think he was
conceited in asking for command
of a regiment.
Less than 10 years ago when
somebody said he ought to be
President he grew angry. "Ba-
loney!" he said, giving every in
dication of a man who thought he
was being ribbed.
More Average Than Epic.
He had never been inside q po-
litica1 headquarters until q month
ago.
Today Dwight David Eisenhower
is the Republican candidate foI
President Of the United States.
ALI this, in summary, may sounc
epic, but for most of his 62 years
Ike Eisenhower was more average
than epic.
His forebearers were simple
German folk originally nameG
'Eisenhauer," meaning "hewer ol
IRON" In the 17th century they
migrated from Germany to Swe-
den, later to Holland, and finally
about 1882. to the United States
Their first stop was Pennsylvania
and the next. about $50 years
later, was Kansas.
Ike's ancestors, down to his par
entS, David Jacob Eisenhower and
Ida Elizabeth Slower Eisenhower
were Mennonites, belonging to a
sect called Brethren in Christ.
They were highly moral, almost
1puritanical, and militant paci-
fists. Before she died in 1916, Ida
Eisenhower extended her pacifi-
cism by joining the Jehovah's
Witness and becoming a con-
scientious objector.
Mother Disapproved Career.
Frequently in his career on and
off the battlefield, Ike has said
he hates war. But so far as is
known, he never explained his
choice of profession in the face
of his mothers teachings. Accord
ling to Biographer John Gunther
Mrs. Eisenhower disapproved his
choice but never opposed it.
In Dennison, Tex, where be
was born on October IA. 1890, and
lin Abilene, Kansas, where his
IIfamily moved two years later, the
predominant influence in Gen
Eisenhower's home seems to have
been his mother. His father
lopened a merchandise shop ir
] Abilene and failed. Later, HI
WU1hCO DIS q 141CC11dA41N 11A q NACdA4'
,Iery but never made much.
;. MY father failed twice." tht
J slgeneral once said. Each time
lmy mother just smiled and worked
rIharder."
4 The Eisenhowers lived in {
,lframe house on the wrong sid'
lof the tracks. Like his five broth
/ |ers, Ike. the third son. sometime
-lhad to wear his mothers high
: button shoes to school. Like hi
brothers. he hunted and fishe.
land swan in a muddy creek bu
rlalso worked hard at various jobs
! "A Killing i'm Cucumbers." !"
One of his chores was selling
[ fIhome- grown crops to the veal
1Ithier families on the north sid
lof the tracks. His speciality wa
5lsweet corn but, as he said later
Some years I made q killing h
rIearly cucumberS."
Despite frequent financial eri