Kansas Capitol & Ike's Boyhood Home

We have visited many Capitols, but one we had not toured was Topeka, Kansas. Since we were already in Kansas City, MO, it seemed a good time to drive 150 miles west to Topeka. We found a beautiful campground with all of the required amenities located only a few miles from the capitol. It was a lovely sunny day and not as hot as it had been in Sedalia, Missouri (108 degrees being the warmest). We found Topeka to be rather lackluster with very little traffic. Parking at the capitol was a breeze; only one other couple was on our guided tour. We were disappointed to learn that the capitol dome was being renovated, which precluded our seeing some of the usual points of interest. There is some wonderful wall art in the main edifice, but overall, the building lacks the pizzazz we have seen in other capitols. Nevertheless, our guide was interesting and had many stories to entertain us as we walked from room to room. No one but a secretary was in the Governor’s ceremonial office as we entered.

Where Ike and his six brothers spent their childhood

Harry Truman had decided not to run for President again in 1952. The United States was embroiled in the unpopular Korean Conflict. As well, because Truman had relieved popular WW II hero, GEN Douglas MacArthur, in Korea, most Americans had not forgiven him. Hence, he would probably have lost the election anyway. Ike had been a five star general and Army Chief of Staff under Truman. He had been given most of the credit for defeating Hitler and winning the war in Europe seven years earlier. He went on to become president of Columbia University after the War. But as a moderate conservative hero he was coaxed into running for President of the United States by the Republican Party in 1952. He won by a landslide. The much-published slogan, "I like Ike." proved irresistible to voters. His Vice President was Richard Nixon.

The room where Ida Eisenhower spent her last days

In 1961 we had driven to California from Ohio as tent campers, celebrating Jerry’s Master’s Degree from Ohio State University. With us were our toddler daughter, Robin, and teenage foster daughter, Judy. Along the way we stopped in Abilene to visit IKE’s boyhood home. Now, 51 years later, we decided to leave the Airstream in Topeka and drive a little farther west to spend another day at the Eisenhower home, museum, and library in Abilene. Admittedly, the memories of our 1961 visit were hazy.

IKE was actually born in Texas in 1890, but moved to Abilene with his parents when he was age two. In touring his boyhood home this time we learned that he was the third of eight boys (no girls) who lived there. One son died in childhood. His parents were David and Ida, originally Mennonites. However, they switched to the Jehovah Witness (JW) faith when the boys were young. After 1915 the father, David, and the boys gave up on the JW church because many of its dire prophesies had failed to come true. IKE would never again affiliate with any church until his second term as President. His mother, Ida, however, was a pacifist and remained active in the JW faith until her death in 1946. At that time she was still living in the Eisenhower home featured in this post. The furnishings we saw are essentially as she left them.

Prayer Chapel at Eisenhower Center

Dwight excelled in sports in high school, and received an appointment to West Point. He graduated in 1915 in the lower half of his class. Stationed in Texas as a second lieutenant, he met Mamie Geneva Doud, whom he married in 1916. He and Mamie are buried in the lovely little chapel on the grounds of the Eisenhower Center. IKE never again lived in the family home after he left for West Point.

Eisenhower believed that there was something special about growing up in the Midwest just as Harry Truman did. Neither of these great Americans would be remembered today had they died by age 50. Both were late bloomers who will be forever tied to our freedom. They worked closely together to gain victory in WW II but did not always agree. When Harry was ready to leave office, IKE was called to the presidency in 1952. Both are listed by historians among our 10 best presidents.