And the friendships worked both ways. Eisenhower had something none of these men possessed: star power. He was a global phenomenon, one of the few men whose face was instantly recognizable around the world and whose name stood for victory and integrity. His friends knew a good product when they saw it and were determined to see Eisenhower become president. Over the course of many weekends of golf, bridge, and hunting, they had ample opportunity to relate their fears of “statism” and a bureaucratic seizure of power. America was in trouble, they believed, and Eisenhower was the only man who
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