Milton S. Eisenhower
Encyclopedia
Milton Stover Eisenhower, (September 15, 1899 – May 2, 1985) served as president of three major American universities: Kansas State University
, the Pennsylvania State University
, and the Johns Hopkins University
. He was the younger brother of U.S. President
Dwight D. Eisenhower
, Edgar N. Eisenhower
, and Earl D. Eisenhower
.
to Ida Elizabeth Stover
(1862–1946) and David Jacob Eisenhower (1863–1942); the family was poor. Eisenhower attended public schools and graduated from Kansas State University
in 1923 with a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial journalism. Eisenhower served as Director of Information for the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1928 to 1941, where he was a spokesman for the New Deal
. In 1942, he was director of the War Relocation Authority
, the U.S. civilian agency responsible for the relocation and internment of Japanese Americans
during World War II, and from 1942 to 1943, associate director of the Office of War Information.
In 1943, Eisenhower became President of Kansas State University (his alma mater), a position he held until 1950. During this time, he also served as the first Chairman of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO
. In this role, Eisenhower sought to also establish UNESCO commissions for each state. He personally organized the first such commission, in Kansas.
Eisenhower was often referred to as "Doctor." However, he did not hold an earned doctoral degree; instead, he had received an honorary doctorate of humane letters (D.H.L.) from the University of Nebraska in 1949. After leaving Kansas State University in 1950, Eisenhower served as President at two other universities:
Eisenhower was President Emeritus of Johns Hopkins University from 1967 to 1971, and in 1972.
In 1968, he was appointed Chairman of the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
In 1980, Eisenhower appeared on the ballot in Texas
as the running mate
of Congressman John B. Anderson
, Independent
candidate for President of the United States
.
.) and a daughter, Ruth Eakin Eisenhower (born July 21, 1938; died January 2, 1984 in Baltimore, Maryland).
Milton Eisenhower died of cancer in Baltimore, Maryland in May 1985, at the age of 85.
ISBN-13: 978-0961665807
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
, the Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, and the Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. He was the younger brother of U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
, Edgar N. Eisenhower
Edgar N. Eisenhower
Edgar N. Eisenhower was a lawyer, and the older brother of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was born in Hope, Kansas and graduated from the University of Michigan in 1914...
, and Earl D. Eisenhower
Earl D. Eisenhower
Earl Dewey Eisenhower was an electrical engineer and legislator.-Early life and career:Born in Abilene, Kansas, he died in Scottsdale, Arizona. His brothers were: President of the United States Dwight D. Eisenhower, Edgar N. Eisenhower, and Milton Eisenhower...
.
Biography
He was born in Abilene, KansasAbilene, Kansas
Abilene is a city in and the county seat of Dickinson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 6,844.-History:...
to Ida Elizabeth Stover
Ida Elizabeth Stover
Ida Elizabeth Stover Eisenhower was the mother of U.S. President Dwight David Eisenhower , and university president Milton Stover Eisenhower as well as Edgar N. Eisenhower , and Earl D. Eisenhower .She was born in Mount Sidney, Virginia, the only daughter of Elizabeth Ida Judah Link and Simon P...
(1862–1946) and David Jacob Eisenhower (1863–1942); the family was poor. Eisenhower attended public schools and graduated from Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
in 1923 with a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial journalism. Eisenhower served as Director of Information for the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1928 to 1941, where he was a spokesman for the New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
. In 1942, he was director of the War Relocation Authority
War Relocation Authority
The War Relocation Authority was a United States government agency established to handle internment of Japanese-, German-, and Italian-Americans during World War II...
, the U.S. civilian agency responsible for the relocation and internment of Japanese Americans
Japanese American internment
Japanese-American internment was the relocation and internment by the United States government in 1942 of approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese who lived along the Pacific coast of the United States to camps called "War Relocation Camps," in the wake of Imperial Japan's attack on...
during World War II, and from 1942 to 1943, associate director of the Office of War Information.
In 1943, Eisenhower became President of Kansas State University (his alma mater), a position he held until 1950. During this time, he also served as the first Chairman of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
. In this role, Eisenhower sought to also establish UNESCO commissions for each state. He personally organized the first such commission, in Kansas.
Eisenhower was often referred to as "Doctor." However, he did not hold an earned doctoral degree; instead, he had received an honorary doctorate of humane letters (D.H.L.) from the University of Nebraska in 1949. After leaving Kansas State University in 1950, Eisenhower served as President at two other universities:
- Pennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvania State UniversityThe Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
(1950–56) - Johns Hopkins UniversityJohns Hopkins UniversityThe Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
(1956–1967, and 1971–72)
Eisenhower was President Emeritus of Johns Hopkins University from 1967 to 1971, and in 1972.
In 1968, he was appointed Chairman of the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
In 1980, Eisenhower appeared on the ballot in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
as the running mate
Running mate
A running mate is a person running together with another person on a joint ticket during an election. The term is most often used in reference to the person in the subordinate position but can also properly be used when referring to both candidates, such as "Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen were...
of Congressman John B. Anderson
John B. Anderson
John Bayard Anderson is a former United States Congressman and Presidential candidate from Illinois. He was a U.S. Representative from the 16th Congressional District of Illinois for ten terms from 1961 through 1981 and an Independent candidate in the 1980 presidential election. He was previously...
, Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
candidate for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
.
Personal life
On October 12, 1927 Eisenhower married Helen Elsie Eakin (1904–1954), with whom he had a son, Milton Stover Eisenhower, Jr. (born December 11, 1930; died December 7, 2002 in Alexander City, AlabamaAlexander City, Alabama
Alexander City is the principal city of the Alexander City Micropolitan Statistical Area, a micropolitan area that covers Coosa and Tallapoosa counties and had a combined population of 53,677 at the 2000 census....
.) and a daughter, Ruth Eakin Eisenhower (born July 21, 1938; died January 2, 1984 in Baltimore, Maryland).
Milton Eisenhower died of cancer in Baltimore, Maryland in May 1985, at the age of 85.
Legacy
- The Milton S. Eisenhower Library of Johns Hopkins University, opened in 1964 and containing 2.5 million volumes, is named after him. It historically has been referred to by Hopkins students as the "Milton Hilton" and has the unusual feature of being almost entirely underground.
- The Milton S. Eisenhower Research Center is the primary research facility at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab.
- The Milton S. Eisenhower Auditorium, a 2,595 seat center for the performing arts on the University Park campus of Penn State, opened in 1974. Eisenhower Chapel, on the same campus, is named for his wife, Helen Eakin Eisenhower.
- Eisenhower Hall, opened in 1951 on the Kansas State campus, is also named in his honor. It is home to the College of Arts and Sciences dean's office and the departments of History and Modern Languages. (Not to be confused with the Eisenhower Hall at West Point.)
Further reading
- Ambrose, Stephen E., and Richard H. Immerman, Milton S. Eisenhower, Educational Statesman. (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1983) 331 pp. isbn 978-0-8018-9267-7
- Virginia M. Quiring, Milton s Eisenhower Years at Kansas State University (Friends of the Libraries of Kansas State Univ., 1986) 120 pages ISBN-10: 0961665807
ISBN-13: 978-0961665807
External links
- Papers of Milton S. Eisenhower, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library
- Dwight D. Eisenhower letter on Milton S. Eisenhower's resignation
- Memorandum, Milton. S. Eisenhower to Members of Congress, April 20, 1942; on War Relocation Authority
- Urban Legend regarding brother Dwight's induction as President of Columbia which was meant for Milton