Eisenhower, Dwight David

US general, war hero, and Republican politician

1943-1945 - Led Allies in World War II.

1945-1948 - Army chief of staff.

1948-1952 - President of Columbia University (on leave 1951-1952)

1950-1952 - 1st Supreme Allied Commander in Europe (SACEUR).

1953-1961 - 34th president of US.

With John Foster Dulles, formulated aggressively anti-Communist foreign policy, centered on Cold War between US and Soviet Union.

Promoted nuclear arms buildup and policy of massive retaliation as deterrents to open warfare, while providing aid and security assurances to non-Communist nations, especially in Asia, in attempt to halt spread of Communism in light of domino theory.

1955 - Summit with Nikita Khrushchev, made Open Skies proposal, calling for US and Soviet Union to permit mutual aerial surveillance of nuclear and military sites.

Signed bill 1956 authorizing construction of interstate highway system.

1957 - Dispatched federal troops to Little Rock 1957 to protect black students enrolling at Central High School.

1961 - Severed diplomatic ties with Cuba, following expropriation of US property by Fidel Castro's regime, and initiated planning of Bay of Pigs invasion (executed under John F. Kennedy).