Dwight D. Eisenhower Campaign Announcement

General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Retired) kicked off his presidential campaign from his hometown of Abilene, Kansas. At the start of 1952, General Eisenhower was still in the military, serving as NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and Senator Robert Taft (R-OH) was considered the Republican front-runner. Supporters of the “Draft Eisenhower” movement put the general’s name on the ballot in several states, and by the end of primary season the race between Eisenhower and Taft was considered even. General Eisenhower retired from active service on May 31, 1952, and returned to the U.S. to campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. He defeated Senator Taft at the party’s convention in July and went on to beat Governor Adlai Stevenson (D-IL) in the general election to win the presidency. close