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321st out of 375 books
—
279 voters
Going Home To Glory: A Memoir of Life with Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1961-1969
When President Dwight Eisenhower left Washington, D.C., at the end of his second term, he retired to a farm in historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, that he had bought a decade earlier. Living on the farm with the former president and his wife, Mamie, were his son, daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren, the oldest of whom, David, was just entering his teens. In this engagin...more
ebook, 336 pages
Published
October 26th 2010
by Simon & Schuster
(first published October 8th 2010)
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This could be the story of just about any young man reminiscing about his grandfather, except that when his grandfather comes to visit him at boarding school, the grandfather arrives by helicopter and goes first to the headmaster’s residence before visiting the dorm. That’s because his grandfather just happened to be a former President and the army general who led the Normandy invasion of Europe during WWII.
The story begins January 20, 1961, just as former President Dwight D. Eisenhower leaves o...more
The story begins January 20, 1961, just as former President Dwight D. Eisenhower leaves o...more
An affectionate look at President Dwight Eisenhower after he left the White House in January 1961 and went into retirement at his farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. As David Eisenhower notes, former presidents have to carve out their own roles in retirement. The Kennedy administration increasingly tried to distance itself from the Eisenhower administration, while, ironically, President Lyndon Johnson often turned to Eisenhower for advice and counsel after becoming president in late 1963. In 1964,...more
I think Julie Nixon Eisenhower is underrated as an author & editor. I had a little interest in this book that her husband, David, wrote until I noticed her name on the spine as well. While "Going Home to Glory" is mostly David Eisenhower's work, I felt I could really tell where Julie's input was used and her diary excerpts were some of the most interesting sections (along with General Eisenhower's). To tout another of her books, her biography of her mother was really wonderful.
When it comes...more
When it comes...more
I read this book no less than three times after reading it once. Not immediately but I found myself going back to it in between my other books. The post President life of Ike and David and Julie's recollection is nothing less than personable and endearing. Ike was a great President, worked from the middle and achieved alot for the economy and landscape of the American small business man and woman. Either way I found this insightful, telling, and I felt as though I was on the inner circle of fami...more
This book is written by Dwight Eisenhower's grandson, David, and his wife, Julie Nixon Eisenhower (Richard Nixon's daughter). I bought this book at Borders Going-Out-Of-Business sale for $1.00. What a great buy it was. Many fascinating things I learned. After JFK was elected President Eisenhower and Kennedy communicated often. Eisenhower wanted to be called General instead of President in his private life and JFK agreed to give him the fifth star to make him a five star general. After JFK's assa...more
David Eisenhower and Julie Nixon Esenhower wrote an excellent book about life with the former President in his retirement years. Glimpses caught of the fiery Eisenhower temperment. For instance when young David was 13, and instead of doing summer chores on his granfather's Ghettysburg farm, he played cards with a friend. When Ike returned home and discovered David's idleness, he was immediately fired. But they were both schedualed later that day to play golf with 2 other people. After a couple h...more
Poignant book about the final years of Eisenhower as told by his grandson, David Eisenhower. You remember David Eisenhower, he married Nixon's daughter, Julie, and the presidential retreat in the Maryland mountains is named for him. Eisenhower is sometimes the forgotten president. He followed the unpredictable Harry Truman and he was followed by the charismatic JFK. Eisenhower is dismissed by many historians as a do nothing president, but anyone interested in history should read this book. Very...more
I enjoy biographies written about famous people by those who knew them or were related to them, so I looked forward eagerly to this book by Dwight Eisenhower's grandson. David is also a historian, so there was a lot more presidential history and analysis than I would have liked. But it was necessary to provide the background so he could fully discuss Ike's opinions and motivations in the post-presidential years. And that--especially his unlikely relationship with LBJ--was fascinating. It was als...more
I was really looking forward to reading this book, but in the end was disappointed by it. It seems DDE II couldn't quite decide if he wanted to write a historical retrospective or a familial on. So in the end it read as very disjointed and at times incredibly dry, which seems like a waste since DDE sounded like quite a personality. I had to force myself to read the entire book, and can honestly say I am glad I did if only because Part II of the book was better written. The General may have had f...more
I've always felt honored to have met Mamie Eisenhower before she passed away while I was an Gettysburg College undergrad. I've become somewhat of a fan of David Eisenhower through his work with Institute for Public Service at the Annenberg Center. This is the first of his books that I've read. He paints a realistic portrait of his grandfather, warts and all, and gives his own accounts of the history of America that he experienced. You better believe I'll read his next installment of his account...more
David Eisenhower has done a marvelous job of combining an historian's look at President/General Eisenhower and a grandson's recollections of a stern, but doting, "Granddad". The historical elements are limned with a reporter's unbiased eye, but the personal memories are many and very touching.
Years ago, I thought young David was the luckiest kid in the world, to grow up with a grandfather like "Ike", and reading this paean has not changed my mind. He was lucky and is savvy enough, as a grown man...more
Years ago, I thought young David was the luckiest kid in the world, to grow up with a grandfather like "Ike", and reading this paean has not changed my mind. He was lucky and is savvy enough, as a grown man...more
Aug 24, 2011
Laura
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
biography-autobiography-memoir,
history
At parts, this reads almost like an amateur history/memoir - "....and then we did this, then this, then this...." - interesting, but in that polite way that listening to kids telling stories is interesting. In other parts, where David lets the reader really know his grandfather, the book shines. I think it's unintentional, but there's a sense of loss all the way through, knowing that the lively, brilliant, cantankerous General we're getting to know is going to decline and die, and that the autho...more
There have been so many books written about each of our presidents, that it is rare to find one that offers anything new of importance. Unfortunately, this is not one of them. Written by Eisenhower's grandson, this book offers a personal glimps of Ike's retirement years, years that were dominated by poor health. The main thing that I took away from this book is a picture of a man that seemed to treat his friends better than he treated his own family. In short, he seemed like a cold fish. It may...more
Another attempt at filling in the gaps in my history education. This was written by President Eisenhower's grandson David and covered the years immediately after he left the White House in 1961 through his death in 1969. Interesting to see how the presidents interact with their predecessors. Also learned a bit about the Vietnam War from the perspectives of Johnson, Nixon and Eisenhower.
Jul 04, 2011
Kate P.
added it
After a visit to Gettysburg and the Eisenhower home at Gettysburg, I thought I would like to read more about this President which caused me to pick up Going Home To Glory. It was written about his later years--from his time out of the Presidency to his death--by his grandson David and David's wife Julie Nixon Eisenhower. Their book provids personal and political background and I found special interest in the details of his relationships with Kennedy and Johnson, who both sought guidance from the...more
An interesting read regarding that time in our history and feeling it being apart of my growing up, wearing my I Like Ike Button, Viet Nam, Nixon being part of the history of politics of California. Didn’t realize how much time Eisenhower spent in Palm Springs.
I enjoyed it.
I enjoyed it.
This is an excellent book! There hasn't been a good book written about Dwight Eisenhower's post-presidential years, and David Eisenhower/Julie Nixon Eisenhower have written a heartwarming, historical, and personal book about a WWII hero, great President, and loving grandfather.
Allows you to really understand Eisenhower in the later years. Also, Author brings up question of Eisenhower's effect on Nixon's presidency if he had lived. Would Watergate have happened versus would Nixon have gone to China? Fascinating.
Not many people could write a book about eight of their childhood years, but David Eisenhower has remarkable resources to draw on. I got quite a different view of President Eisenhower than I expected from this insightful memoir.
A very nice book about what seems like a very nice man, President/General Eisenhower. Educational, interesting, and a glimps into the time of Eisenhower's life that is often not focused on.
Nov 07, 2010
faeriecrone
added it
I confess to skimming through some of the political stuff but found the memoirs very interesting, especially the perspective of a young grandson and his reverence for his grandfather,
It was a nice change to read a biography. My husband was born in Abilene, KS, so over the years, I've learned more about Eisenhower. I enjoyed David Eisenhower's wriing and the insight into DDE's life after the presidency.
interviewing david about this interesting book - can you imagine having a former president for your grandfather?
finished this tonite - am choosing my questions for david
interesting book - lots of interesting glimpses into Ike
finished this tonite - am choosing my questions for david
interesting book - lots of interesting glimpses into Ike
A warm, charming and quick read about one of our nation's most admirable figures and most underrated presidents, Dwight David Eisenhower, as seen through the loving if observable eyes of his grandson, David.
All Ike fans will enjoy reading David Eisenhower's book of Ithe retirement years at Gettysburg filled with personal insights and recollections.
A well written and warm reminiscence about a American icon by his grandson. A must read for anyone interested in Ike, Nixon, or the 60's.
Some great anecdotes about Ike's retirement to Gettysburg and his attention to politics after leaving office.
My review in AND Magazine: http://www.andmagazine.com/content/an...
Jul 07, 2011
Katherine
added it
I listened to this on CD while working out - it was an interesting mix of history and personalities!
A sweet yet informative book. While certainly biased, still interesting insights about a surprising complex man.
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| Biography | 2 | 5 | Jan 16, 2013 06:17am |
