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We must be willing, individually and as a Nation, to accept whatever sacrifices may be required of us. A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both. Inaugural Address

Inaugural Address

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Legacy

Like two of his predecessors––Presidents Washington and Grant––Eisenhower came to the presidency as a heroic military commander. Eisenhower was the only president to have served in both World War I and World War II. In World War II Eisenhower served as commanding general of the Allied forces in Europe and was most notably the commander who lead the troops to invade France on D-Day. But Eisenhower was no warmonger. Rather, he brought a penchant for peace to the White House, and he is credited with helping to end the Korean War in 1953.

Though Eisenhower attempted to improve relations with the Soviet Union through a cultural exchange program, the Cold War continued to escalate. Eisenhower hoped to deter Soviet aggression by increasing military might and threatening massive retaliation. He launched the arms race by authorizing a major stockpiling of nuclear missiles. He also approved U-2 spy flights over the Soviet Union.