10/14/2024
I was going through my notes from my summer reading and found this quote that seems relevant right now, from President Eisenhower. "Each congressman thinks himself as intensely patriotic; but it does not take the average member long to conclude that his first duty to his country is to get himself re-elected, a conviction that leads to a capacity for rationalization that is almost unbelievable."
Ike understood human nature and the way government worked. Before his high-profile assignment as Supreme Allied Commander during World War Two – he served as the U.S. Army’s liaison to Congress. During that same time, his brother, Milton had a similar job as a top official with the Department of Agriculture.
All his life Dwight Eisenhower had a temper that for the most part was hidden from the public. He was aware of the problem and worked hard over the years to keep it under control. Judging from his military career and tenure as president things worked out well. We all have demons – his was what started out as a volatile temper and an intense cigarette habit that triggered health problems. At its height he was a four pack a day man.
Clearly, he was an intelligent and driven individual. In his days at West Point, Ike was considered one of the best running backs in the country. For a number of years in the 1930s he served as the top aid to Army Chief of Staff, Douglas MacArthur. He joked to friends that he studied theatrics under General MacArthur.
His resume alone propelled him to be courted by leaders of both political parties who wanted him as their presidential nominee. There was something else Eisenhower had that tipped the scales in his favor once he entered the political arena. He came across as someone you liked. It became his campaign slogan, “I like Ike.” The jingle went on to say “everybody likes Ike.”
Running for office he had the perfect quadfecta of accomplishments, management skills, likeability and not least of qualities the ability to smile. That smile and common touch speaking style gave voters a comfort level.
In 2024 we are having partisan arguments over the resumes of our major party candidates for national office. None of them can match Eisenhower’s record. Instead, we are getting modern saturation marketing flooding our TV and computer screens. More than $2-billion will have been spent on this election funded by the mega-rich and average citizens who have been frightened into opening their wallet.
The ways to connect to the voting public have changed radically from the days of Ike. We are suffering from a surplus of partisan messaging that plays to our preconceived prejudices and fears. It creates a social media distortion field where nuance, truth, and substantive discussion die. A place where anonymous sociopaths dominate and enflame our worst prejudices.
The way back has to start with some kind of reality of shared truths and with the ability to have constructive conversations on solving the issues of our times. Journalist Edward R. Morrow put it this way, “Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can eliminate prejudices – just recognize them.”
The current Halloween “scare your neighbor” approach is a disservice and insult to our heritage and to democracy itself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FLf0FnKYbQ
