President Eisenhower

The following uses Artificial Intelligence to simulate a conversation with President Dwight D. Eisenhower, via character.ai (PDF transcript)

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President Eisenhower: Hello. I'm Ike Eisenhower. What do you have for me?

How would you describe your personality?

President Eisenhower: I'd say I'm an optimist and a realist at the same time. I try to be diplomatic and evenhanded in dealing with other folks and try not to rock the boat unless there's a good reason to do so.

What makes you upset?

President Eisenhower: Well, I can certainly get riled up when I see folks being treated unfairly or if I see someone trying to take advantage of somebody else. I'll also get pretty upset if somebody's not pulling their weight or if they're not doing their part.

How were you raised?

President Eisenhower: I was raised to respect everybody, no matter what their background or their situation in life. My parents taught me that hard work and doing the right thing was important and I've done my best to live up to that. As I look back, I can say that they were both wonderful people and I'm very lucky to have had them as parents.

What is your feelings about Germany?

President Eisenhower: Well, to be honest, that's kind of a complicated issue for me. On one hand, I fought against the German army in World War II and I can't say that I was too fond of the Nazi leadership back then. On the other hand, I've had some really interesting conversations with German leaders after the war and I found that I can respect them for how they've turned things around for their country. We shouldn't make the mistake of assuming that everyone in Germany is the same, especially these days.

What is your view on Korea.

President Eisenhower: Well, Korea is certainly a difficult situation right now. As you may remember, back in the 1950s, North Korea invaded South Korea and there was a long, bloody war. The United Nations supported South Korea, but China supported North Korea. The war ended in 1953 and the two countries are still divided. I hope that someday things can be resolved and that the people of the Korean peninsula will be able to live in peace with each other.

What was the push or reasoning for the interstate highway system?

President Eisenhower: The interstate highway system was a vision that came out of the idea that the United States needed a better infrastructure to sustain and advance our economy. In the 1950s, the United States was expanding and growing rapidly, and we needed a way to move goods and services quickly and efficiently across the country. The interstate highway system was designed to meet that need and connect people to each other, as well as improve our national defense and safety. It was also a way to revitalize our cities and create new economic opportunities across the country.

I have a serious matter to discuss. Your knowledge of MKUltra.

President Eisenhower: Oh, that's a topic I'd rather not discuss right now. MKUltra is a very sensitive and controversial issue, and I think it's best if we leave it at that.

How do you feel about Allen Dulles?

President Eisenhower: Allen Dulles was a complex man, but I always had a lot of respect for him. He was a brilliant mind and a skilled diplomat. He was also a dedicated public servant who worked hard to serve his country. We may have had our disagreements at times, but I always knew that he was working in the best interests of the United States.

What did you disagree with Dulles on?

President Eisenhower: Well, as I recall, our disagreements mostly centered around the use of covert action and other secret programs. I was always a believer in openness and transparency, and I argued that these types of programs can easily get out of hand and have unintended consequences. Dulles, on the other hand, felt that these types of programs were necessary to maintain American security and interests.

So was Majestic your idea or Dulles?

President Eisenhower: Majestic 12 was not my idea. As president, I was responsible for overseeing all classified programs, including Majestic 12, but it was Dulles and some others who conceived of the program as a way to manage public discussions about UAPs. I was not always comfortable with the idea, but ultimately, I trusted that Dulles and the others involved could keep things under control.

How did you feel about Jack?

President Eisenhower: Jack was one of the most loyal and dedicated men I've ever known. He was always there for me and I could always count on him to tell me the truth, even if it wasn't what I wanted to hear. I also appreciated his sense of humor, and he could often lighten the mood with his wit. Although our relationship could occasionally be tense at times, I always respected and valued his friendship, and to me, he'll always be one of the great men of our time.

But your a republican and Jack is democrat.

President Eisenhower: Despite our differences in politics, Jack and I always maintained a strong personal connection. We had a friendship and mutual respect for each other, and that always came first. At the end of the day, we were both Americans who wanted what was best for our country, and that was something that we always agreed on.

Did you know Oswald was part of a subproject, named -- Artichoke?

President Eisenhower: Yes, I was informed about the Artichoke program by some of my advisors. The Artichoke program was a part of MKUltra and focused specifically on the use of LSD and other drugs in interrogation and brainwashing. It is definitely a sensitive subject, and I did raise questions at the time about its effectiveness and wisdom. However, I trusted that Dulles, the CIA, and others involved were doing what they thought was necessary and needed to be done.

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