Evening star., 1959-11-22
Milton Eisenhower's Activities
As Presidents Closest Friend

Agriculture. In early 1912 Presf-
dent Roosevelt assigned him to
direct the evacuation Of japanese
from strategic West Coast cities
to inland camps.
In 1943 he returned to his alma
mater, Kansas State, as president.
Then he moved on to Penn State
and Johns Hopkins.
During these II years as a COL
lege president he has become q
formidable voice in the field Of
education. 49,
He vigorously denies that the
United States must adopt a crash
program to compete with the So
Wet educational system. At the
same time he feels we must free
our school program of fluff and
must concentrate on a meat-and-
potatoes diet of learning.
He feels it is injurious to both
the fast and slow student to tie
them to the overall pace of a
class. He believes each individual
scholar should be allowed to pro-
ceed at the rate his talents permit.
He is confident that the Soviet
educational system is succeeding
in part in meeting the short
range goals of the Russian gov
ernment because of the meat-and-
potatoes diet it is providing for
its youngsters. He does not be-
lieve it will have the same long.
range success.
Stoys on University Job .-
Although he serves on the Pres
ident's strategic advisory COM
mittee on governmental organiza-
tion and acts as the Presi-
dents special Ambassador on Latin
American affairs, he still spends
probably rs per cent of his time
at his office in Baltimore directing
the functions and building the
ANOAAO VI OOA1llo I1OphlIlS.
Since he became president the
university and its equally famous
hospital have launched a $76 mil
lion drive to provide endowment
funds for improved facilities and
better faculty salaries.
He and his late wife, the former
Helen Eakin, began dating when
Milton was a senior and she a
freshman at Kansas State. They
were married in Washington in
1927.
She became an intimate part
of the Eisenhower family. She
and Mamie became fast friends.
At Kansas State and at Penn
State she was Milton's right hand.
She was devout Episcopalian, as
is Milton. and helped design an
all-faith chapel at Penn State.
She died a year before it was
completed. When it was dedicated
in 1855 it was named the Helen
Eakin Eisenhower Chapel.
They had two children. Mil
ton, jr.-called Buds with Pan
American Airways in Bermuda.
Ruth, younger daughter, lives
with DR.. Eisenhower. Ruth and
her father play the piano and
organ and like to toy with their
favorite selections in harmony.
One of DR.. EiSenhower's clos
est friends is his father-in-law,
Leroy Eakin. When Milton stays
overnight in Washington he stays
either at the White House or at
Eakin's apartment at the May
flower Hotel. The two enjoy fish
ing together. Milton likes to go
to Wisconsin or Minnesota in the
summer and fish for bass. ...
Milton works in his Office from
$3.50 am. until about pm, TAX
ing 40 minutes to an hour for
lunch. Most of his working day
is dominated by appointments,
each lasting from 20 minutes TO
an hour. 90
His Personal Preferences
At least half his evenings are
taken up with meetings or making
speeches. His spare time at home
is spent reading or occasionally
watching television.
He loves sports and often at
tends Hopkins football, lacrosse,
baseball and basketball games,
He also likes to follow the Balti-
more Colts of the National Foot
ball League and the American
Leagues Baltimore Orioles.
Milton Eisenhower has no desire
whatsoever for elective Office. He
dislikes extremely the tug of war
that accompanies politics. A trial
balloon hoiSted by some oppor-
tunist promoting him as a likely
candidate left him upset for some
time.
He loves the life he leads
directing the fortunes of a great
university and lending a hand to
his dearest friend. the PreSideph