A Lesson From Dwight Eisenhower

In his memoir To America, historian Stephen Ambrose describes the legacy of World War II.    He notes that when Dwight Eisenhower was made commander of the American Zone in occupied Germany, he worked to establish democracy at several levels.  He called the German press into his headquarters, told them of the importance of a free press to a democracy, and encouraged them to feel free to criticize him in their papers when they thought he was doing something wrong.  He told the labor unions that their job was to represent workers, not the government.  He told school teachers to encourage students to think for themselves.  Eisenhower’s actions illustrate that America’s post-war role was not just to be the victor, but to set the example of how a free society works and to build new democratic infrastructure in Germany and Japan.

            As President, Eisenhower confronted British and French military attacks on Egypt as they tried to maintain control of the Suez Canal.  Eisenhower refused to bring America into that battle, saying “We cannot subscribe to one law for the weak another law for the strong; one law for those opposing us, another for those allied with us.  There can only be one law—or there shall be no peace” (p. 122).  He noted that the Cold War was a continuing crisis and that “our most realistic policy is holding the line until the Soviets manage to educate their people.”  Education, he believed, would sow the seeds of destruction for Communism.

            Eisenhower was right on these points.  Germany and Japan both became democracies and powerful allies.  The Soviet Union failed in the 1990s.  This was part of Eisenhower’s post-war legacy.        

Applying the Lesson

            Eisenhower’s strategy is a lesson to today’s generation as we deal with the continuing crisis in the Middle East—itself a product of the World Wars, with roots that date back to the fall of the Ottoman Empire after World War I.  The World Wars stripped Britain of much of its influence in the Middle East.  However, the United States stepped in.  Driven by business interests (mostly oil and investments) and political/social interests (driven by our support of Israel), we have toppled national governments (starting with Iran in the 1930s) and infused our interests into the region.  In the 21^stcentury, we have seen the rise of nationalist movements and international terrorism in the region and, most recently, the rise of ISIS in response to failed governments in Iraq and Syria.  And, we’ve seen a massive flow of refugees out of the area as normal life becomes untenable.  After invading Iraq in the 1990s, Americans have been in military conflict in the region since the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001.  Fifteen years of simmering military conflict.

            What to do?

            Well, the first task must be to defeat ISIS, resolve the civil war in Syria, and end the need for continuing military conflict in the region.  This must be done in partnership with our allies and with the legitimate governments in the region.  We need peace, and we need that peace to lead not just to better trade but to a more just and sustainable social system in the region.  Ideally, the goal would be to encourage a collection of democratic states, rather than strong-man tyrannies.  

            More important—and in keeping with President Eisenhower’s example—we need to build peace from within, starting with a commitment to funding the education of both men and women.  There is evidence that education of women in Saudi Arabia is having a positive impact on that culture.  The same needs to happen in Iraq, Syria, Libya, and elsewhere.