Site Chosen for Eisenhower Memorial

[Judi Lynn]

Site Chosen for Eisenhower Memorial
By SAM HANANEL, Associated Press Writer
Friday, November 25, 2005
(11-25) 10:54 PST WASHINGTON, (AP) --

Dwight D. Eisenhower had been dead for more than a decade before scholars began calling him one of the greatest presidents in American history.

Now planners have chosen one of Washington's most prominent sites for a grand memorial to the humble man from Abilene, Kan.

The plaza-style memorial across the street from the National Mall would honor Eisenhower's legacy of public service, joining the collection of nearby monuments to Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

"It was his total approach to domestic and international politics that set him apart," said Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Carl Reddel, executive director of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission. "He's a much more profound figure than many realized."

The memorial site, selected earlier this year, was approved this month by the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission. If it passes muster with two other advisory groups, the commission will formally recommend it to Congress next year.
(snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/11/25/national/w105420S38.DTL

[ronnykmarshall]

1. Ike was a good man.

He was probably the last great Republican president. Which is funny when you think that Turman wanted him to run as the Democratic nominee in 1952.

[Midwest_Doc]

5. I Fully Agree!

As a far left-of-center Democrat, I think Ike was a great President. For example, in 1961 he said ".... beware of the military-industrial complex."

[Ferret Annica]

6. Truman was an idiot

who needlessly slaughtered thousands of civilians with atomic bombs.

FDR originally wanted William Orville Douglas, but the same party hacks who so myopically hated Henry A. Wallace for allegedly being to liberal and progressive insisted on the the out of his league Truman to take that spot knowing FDR was likely going to die before the forth term expired instead of either of these vastly more qualified men.

Knowing Truman's opinion only confirms the obvious; that Eisenhower was a good general who should have stayed non political and let a capable person have the presidency instead of him.

[neverforget]

20. This'll be good

:popcorn:

[OneBlueSky]

2. does EVERYONE need a memorial in DC? . . . n/t

.

[indepat]

9. Not everyone, but look for the Gipper to memorialized on the mall even

before his sanctification has been formalized.

[JoFerret]

30. Truly revolting thought

Eisenhower? Well - if everyone's getting one then OK....
Man would be considered a raving liberal leftist these days.

[indepat]

32. Ike warned the nation about the very few who would implement an extreme RW

agenda and we finally got 'um.

[TankLV]

13. Good question and that is why the delay for FDR and WWII memorials.

How many is too many?

The powers that be should game plan a vision into 2 or 300 years into the future and see what a bunch of memorials would do to the fabric of the city.

I don't have an easy answer and I am an architect by profession.

It's not an easy answer.

Maybe some sort of time delay - say a hundred years after the person/event - so people aren't so emotional and a more historic perspective could be undertaken?

[Ferret Annica]

3. Dominos

should be a major design element of this useless monument to a mediocre POTUS in honor of Sec. of State Dulles Chicken Littlelike claim that of Vietnam feel to the commies the sky would fall and this would make it impossible to keep all the other countries of the region fall to commies too.

This monument is a waste of taxpayer dollars. Besides, it will only encourage the Repugs to go after what they really want; Reagan's ugly mug carved into Mt. Rushmore.

[JPZenger]

4. Horrible Driver

For most of his adult life, Eisenhower had chauffers. Then after he retired as President, he moved back to Gettysburg and drove himself. At the time, retired Presidents did not have secret service protection. Local people still talk about what a horrible driver he was.

[ronnykmarshall]

7. That's so funny to hear.

I remember a story that Hillary said that after they moved into the White House, Bill was drving his cool '65 Mustang and she was scared to death at his driving.

[madrchsod]

8. well he did have a driver.......

"i like ike" could`nt want a better slogan.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

24. I got to wave to Ike

when I was 3 yrs old and riding with the Parental Units through Dennison, Tx (where Ike was born). He was campaigning for Prez in '52 and we were avoiding the blocked-off streets for his parade when we pulled up next to his car. Dad saluted the General (Dad was Merchant Marine during WWII) and stood me up in the front seat to wave to him.

[DELUSIONAL]

29. He visited Hawaii when I was in Grade school

the first President to visit Hawaii -- we all got out of school and waved flags as he rode through downtown Honolulu.

That is a neat memory -- and I do believe that he was a great man. I've also been to his presidential library.

If only we had more like him -- and you know we do -- General Clark.

[skipos]

10. Not so hot on civil rights and McCarthy. nt

[Midwest_Doc]

11. Your point is well-taken

But on the whole, I believe he was an honest man, trying to do a good job without a hidden agenda.

[Lefty48197]

12. They should include his quote about the military industrial complex

in his memorial.

[freethought]

26. The monument should be, or at least consist off

An Iron Cross. That whole speach was known as the "Iron Cross" speach. Ike was a good guy, more the 'old chool' republican. Could use more of them.

[MaineDem]

14. Site chosen for Eisenhower memorial

WASHINGTON --Dwight D. Eisenhower had been dead for more than a decade before scholars began calling him one of the greatest presidents in American history.

Now planners have chosen one of Washington's most prominent sites for a grand memorial to the humble man from Abilene, Kan.

The plaza-style memorial across the street from the National Mall would honor Eisenhower's legacy of public service, joining the collection of nearby monuments to Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

"It was his total approach to domestic and international politics that set him apart," said Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Carl Reddel, executive director of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission. "He's a much more profound figure than many realized."

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/11/25/site_chosen_for_eisenhower_memorial/?rss_id=Boston.com+%2F+News

[IndianaGreen]

15. Ike's warning about the military-industrial complex

has stood the test of time.

[UrbScotty]

16. What about the Reagan memorial?

:sarcasm:

[donheld]

25. The George W Bush memorial is completed

[roguevalley]

17. I hope they include a mural of him helping MacArthur burn down

the Bonus Army campsite against orders.

[Ferret Annica]

19. I shutter to think how this crowd in office

would treat veterans petitioning for their promised bonus in hard times in this day and age.

There would be all kinds of stories assassinating the character of the marchers and the 'ringleaders' who lived would be tried and sent to Federal prison for 'raising an army jeopardizing homeland security.

[TankLV]

18. His competance as general was an important factor in liberating the world

from fascism.

His warnings about the military industrial criminals are still powerful today.

I can support the idea of a memorial to this great man.

Don't forget, even tho he eventually decided to become a repuke, he debated with himself as to which party to join - he could have been a democrat.

He was perhaps the last of the "good" repukes who put country above party.

[Dances with Cats]

21. Augusta National Golf Club?

n/t

[Omaha Steve]

22. Eisenhower had this to say, amazing

Document #1147; November 8, 1954
To Edgar Newton Eisenhower
Series: EM, AWF, Name Series ; Category: Personal and confidential
The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XV - The Presidency: The Middle Way
Part VI: Crises Abroad, Party Problems at Home; September 1954 to December 1954
Chapter 13: "A new phase of political experience"


Now it is true that I believe this country is following a dangerous trend when it permits too great a degree of centralization of governmental functions. I oppose this--in some instances the fight is a rather desperate one. But to attain any success it is quite clear that the Federal government cannot avoid or escape responsibilities which the mass of the people firmly believe should be undertaken by it. The political processes of our country are such that if a rule of reason is not applied in this effort, we will lose everything--even to a possible and drastic change in the Constitution. This is what I mean by my constant insistence upon "moderation" in government. Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are H. L. Hunt (you possibly know his background), a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas.5 Their number is negligible and they are stupid.

http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/1147.cfm

[54anickel]

23. Wow, never knew he called Hunt out like that. Wasn't Hunt at one time

thought to be involved in the assassination of JFK?

[Omaha Steve]

27. Yes ...

by several different conspiracy theorists

[54anickel]

28. Thanks, I thought he was. I went googling around after posting that

and came across this site about the religous right movement back then. Not sure how accurate it is, but it sure seems like we're reliving some of this.

http://www.livingston.net/wilkyjr/link7.htm

snip>

H. L. Hunt was a man who held a political paranoia about America. He, like McCarthy, had unfounded suspicions about liberals being behind every corner. He was so paranoid, he would not eat food that was processed in America. He feared that our food and water supply was poisoned by the Communists.23 This paranoid suspicion is a part of the politics of the far-right. It would be later revived and expounded on by men like Tim LaHaye, Marlin Maddoux, and Pat Robertson. Groups like this tend to thrive on the fear that a covert conspiracy is working to take over the nation.

A Dallas newspaper reporter once remarked that "Hunt could be dangerous if he weren’t such a hick".24 Hunt saw democracy as the work of the devil and a form of Communism. The more taxes a man paid, the more votes he was to get. In this utopian society Hunt promoted, people who accepted financial help from the government could not vote.25

Many religious groups found that adopting some of the political views of the Political Right brought funding to their religious organizations. Some promoted the idea that they were fighting Communism through their groups and this delivered income from some in the business community.

The Political Right and fundamentalism seemed to have formed a strong union going into the early sixties. They would be dealt a death blow which would come in the form of an event that would change Western Civilization. Some consider it the most moving one-day event of the Twentieth Century, the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

The Religious Right had been after Kennedy. H. L. had accused Kennedy of being weak on Communism. The week before the assassination, Hunt’s programs accused Kennedy of being involved in a conspiracy to take guns away from Americans.26 Hunt despised Kennedy for favoring taxation of oil exploration. Hunt once fired radio program head, Rev. Poucher, for failing to criticize Kennedy’s tax proposals.27 The day Kennedy was shot, the President read a startling ad in a Dallas newspaper taken out and partially paid for by H. L.’s son, Nelson. As reported by Time Magazine, after reading the ad, Kennedy told his wife they were going into "nut country".28

[NEOBuckeye]

31. Ike: The Last Legitimate Republican President n/t

[dennisnyc]

33. his most important warning to the nation, i hope it will be

chisled into granite in huge letters:


"In the counsels of Government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the Military Industrial Complex.
The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists, and will persist.
We must never let the weight of this combination
endanger our liberties or democratic processes."

-- Dwight Eisenhower
in his farewell speech to Congess