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Ike's Final Battle: The Road to Little Rock and the Challenge of Equality
He called it one of the hardest things he ever did-as difficult as leading the D-Day invasion. When Dwight Eisenhower sent the 101st Airborne to Little Rock to integrate Central High School in September 1957, he couldn't know that he was fighting the last great battle of his career...one that would change forever both him and his country. This is the story of how one of America's greatest leaders confronted America's greatest sin. This is the unlikely tale of how Ike became a civil rights president.Ike represents is a revolution in scholarship on Eisenhower and civil rights. Though not uncritical, the book credits his steady personal advance on the issue as well as his accomplishments in the military and as president. Drawing on thousands of primary documents (including newly released material), Ike's Last Battle builds to its climax at Little Rock-one of the most pivotal events of the civil rights movement. Little Rock is at the epicenter, but the book will also look at the cause, and the aftermath.
332 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 21, 2018
This is an excellent book that finally gives credit to Ike for his work in initiating Civil Rights legislation. Credit often erroneously flows, however, to successors who in my opinion demonstrated far more profile than any real courage!
General Eisenhower, in direct contradiction of War Department Policy, ordered the integration of his forces so black troops could fight shoulder to shoulder with white troops during the 1944 Battle of the Bulge. And in his Theater of Command he also desegregated The Red Cross.
President Eisenhower in his first State of the Union address in 1953 stated: "I propose to use whatever authority exists in the office of the President to end segregation in the District of Columbia, including the Federal Government, and any segregation in the Armed Forces." So although President Truman in 1948 issued an Executive Order to integrate the Armed Forces there was no follow through and it never happened. What Truman could not do in Seven years though Eisenhower actually did accomplish in Two.
Eisenhower was the Pathfinder and the first President to kick start the Civil Rights movement. His Civil Rights Act of 1957 was the first Civil Rights legislation since Reconstruction back in 1875, 82 years prior. Senators John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson worked diligently to thwart and weaken the original legislation and even tacked on a subversive amendment. As Nick Bryant in "The Bystander" points out: the original bill "called for recalcitrant voting registrars to be tried before a judge…since bench trials were standardized practice in civil contempt cases, the charge on which most racial voting officials would be indicted" to now be tried in a trial by jury. The chilling effect was that in the South white registrars would be tried by white juries - what an equitable concept!!! Remember too that even The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was filibustered by the Democratic Party for 57 Days in the Senate, yes that's correct, 57 days.
Nevertheless, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Representative of New York in a letter dated August 30, 1957 euphorically proclaimed "this is the second emancipation." Even the New York Times opined "incomparably the most significant domestic action of any Congress in this Century"
Some would say that Eisenhower was a gradualist but he took measured determined steps to secure his goals much how he successfully fought and defeated the German Army with his "broad front" approach to fighting a war. He did not believe that the heart could be legislated and I think Michael Korda in "Ike, An American Hero" says it best, "Perhaps the chief reason why Ike does not get the credit he deserves in this area is that, unlike Lyndon Johnson, he had no interest in being portrayed as someone at the center of a national psycho-drama; and unlike Kennedy, he did not make decisions while surrounded by friendly newsman and photographers. He preferred to operate quietly, with the absolute minimum of public posturing."
May 6, 2021
Mr. Pipes brings the perspective of history to his review of Eisenhower’s decisions in the move for equality in the Civil Rights struggle. Eisenhower described his decision to send soldiers into Little Rock as more difficult that his decisions surrounding the D-Day invasion. Pipes has a terrific voice in telling this story. His work is carefully researched, thorough, well written and interesting. We know for our current time that the struggle for equality is still ongoing and yet it seems like it has only just begun. I suppose that may be what it meant by moving toward a more Perfect Union. We never quite get there but we move to that goal in all things because we know it is right. This goal of perfection is challenging too. Does a more perfect Union require equality in all things or only equality at the starting line or maybe just plain fairness in treatment of others. So complicated and so many issues. Pipes’ book shares how Eisenhower struggled with these issues as a leader of our Nation. And I believe his assessment is that Eisenhower may not have gotten everything right but he did leave it better than he found it. JIM
January 1, 2014
This is an excellent book that finally gives credit to Ike for his work in initiating Civil Rights legislation. Credit often erroneously flows, however, to successors who in my opinion demonstrated far more profile than any real courage!
General Eisenhower, in direct contradiction of War Department Policy, ordered the integration of his forces so black troops could fight shoulder to shoulder with white troops during the 1944 Battle of the Bulge. And in his Theater of Command he also desegregated The Red Cross.
President Eisenhower in his first State of the Union address in 1953 stated: "I propose to use whatever authority exists in the office of the President to end segregation in the District of Columbia, including the Federal Government, and any segregation in the Armed Forces." So although President Truman in 1948 issued an Executive Order to integrate the Armed Forces there was no follow through and it never happened. What Truman could not do in Seven years though Eisenhower actually did accomplish in Two.
Eisenhower was the Pathfinder and the first President to kick start the Civil Rights movement. His Civil Rights Act of 1957 was the first Civil Rights legislation since Reconstruction back in 1875, 82 years prior. Senators John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson worked diligently to thwart and weaken the original legislation and even tacked on a subversive amendment. As Nick Bryant in "The Bystander" points out: the original bill "called for recalcitrant voting registrars to be tried before a judge…since bench trials were standardized practice in civil contempt cases, the charge on which most racial voting officials would be indicted" to now be tried in a trial by jury. The chilling effect was that in the South white registrars would be tried by white juries - what an equitable concept!!! Remember too that even The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was filibustered by the Democratic Party for 57 Days in the Senate, yes that's correct, 57 days.
Nevertheless, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Representative of New York in a letter dated August 30, 1957 euphorically proclaimed "this is the second emancipation." Even the New York Times opined "incomparably the most significant domestic action of any Congress in this Century"
Some would say that Eisenhower was a gradualist but he took measured determined steps to secure his goals much how he successfully fought and defeated the German Army with his "broad front" approach to fighting a war. He did not believe that the heart could be legislated and I think Michael Korda in "Ike, An American Hero" says it best, "Perhaps the chief reason why Ike does not get the credit he deserves in this area is that, unlike Lyndon Johnson, he had no interest in being portrayed as someone at the center of a national psycho-drama; and unlike Kennedy, he did not make decisions while surrounded by friendly newsman and photographers. He preferred to operate quietly, with the absolute minimum of public posturing."
General Eisenhower, in direct contradiction of War Department Policy, ordered the integration of his forces so black troops could fight shoulder to shoulder with white troops during the 1944 Battle of the Bulge. And in his Theater of Command he also desegregated The Red Cross.
President Eisenhower in his first State of the Union address in 1953 stated: "I propose to use whatever authority exists in the office of the President to end segregation in the District of Columbia, including the Federal Government, and any segregation in the Armed Forces." So although President Truman in 1948 issued an Executive Order to integrate the Armed Forces there was no follow through and it never happened. What Truman could not do in Seven years though Eisenhower actually did accomplish in Two.
Eisenhower was the Pathfinder and the first President to kick start the Civil Rights movement. His Civil Rights Act of 1957 was the first Civil Rights legislation since Reconstruction back in 1875, 82 years prior. Senators John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson worked diligently to thwart and weaken the original legislation and even tacked on a subversive amendment. As Nick Bryant in "The Bystander" points out: the original bill "called for recalcitrant voting registrars to be tried before a judge…since bench trials were standardized practice in civil contempt cases, the charge on which most racial voting officials would be indicted" to now be tried in a trial by jury. The chilling effect was that in the South white registrars would be tried by white juries - what an equitable concept!!! Remember too that even The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was filibustered by the Democratic Party for 57 Days in the Senate, yes that's correct, 57 days.
Nevertheless, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Representative of New York in a letter dated August 30, 1957 euphorically proclaimed "this is the second emancipation." Even the New York Times opined "incomparably the most significant domestic action of any Congress in this Century"
Some would say that Eisenhower was a gradualist but he took measured determined steps to secure his goals much how he successfully fought and defeated the German Army with his "broad front" approach to fighting a war. He did not believe that the heart could be legislated and I think Michael Korda in "Ike, An American Hero" says it best, "Perhaps the chief reason why Ike does not get the credit he deserves in this area is that, unlike Lyndon Johnson, he had no interest in being portrayed as someone at the center of a national psycho-drama; and unlike Kennedy, he did not make decisions while surrounded by friendly newsman and photographers. He preferred to operate quietly, with the absolute minimum of public posturing."
October 21, 2015
This is the story of the evolution Eisenhower’s beliefs towards race, as well as the buildup to the confrontation in Little Rock Arkansas in 1957. The book goes to back Ike’s days in the Army when he harbored prejudices toward blacks that seemed to be fairly common to the time. During the course of WWII, his views move towards a quiet but determined opposition to segregationist policies.
Eisenhower’s views and decisions were not readily apparent because of his preference for working behind the scenes in a gradualist manner. He was not inclined or suited to “leading a revolution”, particularly in the area of civil rights. These traits places him in an awkward position when the Little Rock confrontation erupts. He remains silent at key moments during the crisis, which friends and enemies mistake for quiet approval. He was not a man at ease with the decisions that he took at Little Rock, or their results.
The book’s biggest failing is the repeated over simplification of the racial incidents that provide the backdrop for the time, including incidents involving Jackie Robinson and Emmet Till. One example of this is his description of the lynching of George Dorsey, a WWII veteran, in 1946. When the incident happened, Dorsey and his wife were traveling with another couple on a back road when they were stopped at a bridge by a mob of armed white men. The mob was actually there for Dorsey’s companion Roger Malcolm, who had allegedly stabbed a white man. However, this is how Pipes describes the incident, “Dorsey might have thought the crowd was there to greet and thank him. After all, he had worn the uniform and served in WWII. But the crowd was there to bury Dorsey, not to praise him.” This is but one of several examples where Pipes stresses the shock of racist behavior but leaves out relevant details of the particular incident.
That being said, the author name still does a fairly good a job in explaining the Eisenhower’s evolving beliefs towards segregation and the social/ political climate of the time.
Eisenhower’s views and decisions were not readily apparent because of his preference for working behind the scenes in a gradualist manner. He was not inclined or suited to “leading a revolution”, particularly in the area of civil rights. These traits places him in an awkward position when the Little Rock confrontation erupts. He remains silent at key moments during the crisis, which friends and enemies mistake for quiet approval. He was not a man at ease with the decisions that he took at Little Rock, or their results.
The book’s biggest failing is the repeated over simplification of the racial incidents that provide the backdrop for the time, including incidents involving Jackie Robinson and Emmet Till. One example of this is his description of the lynching of George Dorsey, a WWII veteran, in 1946. When the incident happened, Dorsey and his wife were traveling with another couple on a back road when they were stopped at a bridge by a mob of armed white men. The mob was actually there for Dorsey’s companion Roger Malcolm, who had allegedly stabbed a white man. However, this is how Pipes describes the incident, “Dorsey might have thought the crowd was there to greet and thank him. After all, he had worn the uniform and served in WWII. But the crowd was there to bury Dorsey, not to praise him.” This is but one of several examples where Pipes stresses the shock of racist behavior but leaves out relevant details of the particular incident.
That being said, the author name still does a fairly good a job in explaining the Eisenhower’s evolving beliefs towards segregation and the social/ political climate of the time.
June 24, 2013
This book deals with Eisenhower and the little rock school desegregation crisis. The book traces Eisenhower's history of race relations. Ike believed in the evolution of race relations to reach the goal of desegregation. He dint believe in revolution as the way to achieve this goal. The author details Ike's beliefs on race from childhood to the presidency. Ike did more than he's given credit for in striking down segregation ie the use of black troops in combat with white soldiers. Granted it due to manpower shortage but he still had the courage to make the move. As president he didn't see his role as a leader in civil rights. He felt time and evolution of popular opinion would lead to equality. His actions in Little Rock were in his view to enforce the law. The book is good but I felt alittle superficial.
September 15, 2007
A good friend of the family wrote this book. I read it to support his accomplishment and really enjoyed reading it. I like biographies, but I thought this one might have a little too much history or politics in it for me. I was wrong. Kasey tells a wonderful story that's get the information/history across to the reader without bogging down on all of the minute details that might make a book boring or hard to read. I really enjoyed reading this book and cannot wait to see if Kasey writes anything else.
Want to read
July 21, 2012As recommended by Ed from the U of C alumni bookclub.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews