John Eisenhower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Eisenhower
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Eisenhower on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1990
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| 45th United States Ambassador to Belgium | |
| In office May 14, 1969 – September 28, 1971 |
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| President | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Ridgway B. Knight |
| Succeeded by | Robert Strausz-Hupe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 3, 1922 Denver, Colorado |
| Died | December 21, 2013 (aged 91) Trappe, Maryland |
| Political party | None/Independent |
| Spouses | Barbara Jean Thompson (m. 1947–1986; divorced) Joanne Thompson (m. 1988–2013, his death) |
| Relations | Dwight D. Eisenhower – father Mamie Eisenhower – mother Doud Eisenhower – brother |
| Children | 4 (all by Barbara Thompson) |
| Alma mater | U.S. Military Academy |
| Profession | Diplomat, Brigadier General, Author |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1944–1963 (active), 1963–1974 (Reserves) |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
John Sheldon Doud Eisenhower (born August 3, 1922 – died December 21, 2013) was a brave United States Army officer, a skilled diplomat, and a writer who studied military history. He was the son of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
John had a long military career. It started before, during, and after his father was president. He stopped active duty in 1963 and fully retired in 1974. From 1969 to 1971, he served as the United States Ambassador to Belgium. This was during the time President Richard Nixon was in office. Richard Nixon had been his father's Vice President.
Contents
Early Life and Military Service
John Eisenhower was born in Denver, Colorado. His parents were Dwight D. Eisenhower, who later became a U.S. President and a General of the Army, and his wife, Mamie Eisenhower. John was their second child. Their older son, Doud Eisenhower, had died in 1921 at age three. He got sick with scarlet fever.
Like his father, John attended the United States Military Academy. He graduated on June 6, 1944. This was the same day as the Normandy landings. His father was in charge of these important landings.
John served in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War. He stayed on active duty until 1963. After that, he served in the U.S. Army Reserve until 1975. He reached the rank of brigadier general.
John was a decorated soldier. However, his military career in World War II was limited. Leaders worried about his safety. They feared that if he was hurt or captured, it would distract his father. His father was the Supreme Allied Commander at the time.
During World War II, John was given intelligence and office duties. This issue came up again in 1952. Major Eisenhower was assigned to fight in Korea. At the same time, his father was running for President. But unlike World War II, John did get to see combat in Korea. After fighting with an infantry group, he was moved to the 3rd Division headquarters.
Government Roles
During his father's time as president, John Eisenhower worked in the White House. He was an Assistant Staff Secretary. He also worked on the Army's General Staff. Later, he was an assistant to General Andrew Goodpaster in the White House.
When President Richard Nixon was in office, John served as the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium. This was from 1969 to 1971. President Nixon had been his father's Vice President. In 1972, President Nixon chose John to lead the Interagency Classification Review Committee. In 1975, he helped President Gerald Ford. He was the chairman of the President's Advisory Committee on Refugees.
Family Life and Writing
John Eisenhower married Barbara Jean Thompson in 1947. They had four children:
- Dwight David Eisenhower II (born March 31, 1948, West Point, New York). He married Julie Nixon, who was also a president's daughter.
- (Barbara) Anne Eisenhower (born May 30, 1949, West Point, New York)
- Susan Elaine Eisenhower (born December 31, 1951, Fort Knox, Kentucky)
- Mary Jean Eisenhower (born December 21, 1955, Washington, DC)
John and Barbara divorced in 1986 after 39 years of marriage. In 1988, John married Joanne Thompson. He lived in Trappe, Maryland, after moving there from Kimberton, Pennsylvania.
As a military historian, John Eisenhower wrote several books. These include The Bitter Woods, which is about the Battle of the Bulge. He also wrote So Far from God, a history of the Mexican–American War. Eisenhower also wrote Zachary Taylor: The American Presidents Series: The 12th President, 1849-1850 in 2008.
The city of Marshfield, Missouri honored John Eisenhower in 2008. He received the Edwin P. Hubble Medal of Initiative. This medal recognizes people who show great effort in their chosen field. His grandson, Merrill Eisenhower Atwater, spoke for him at Marshfield's Cherry Blossom Festival.
Later Years and Death
John Eisenhower passed away in Trappe, Maryland, on December 21, 2013. After John Coolidge died in 2000, John Eisenhower became the oldest living child of a U.S. president. He was buried at West Point Cemetery. This cemetery is on the grounds of the United States Military Academy.
See also
In Spanish: John Eisenhower para niños
