All the recent news has again caused people to speculate that General David Petraeus is planning a presidential bid in 2012 or later. It’s possible, of course, but unlikely, at least in the near term. Petraeus has just taken on the massive assignment of heading US forces in Afghanistan, a mission that will consume all of his time for some time to come. And, by the way, Petraeus hasn’t revealed which political party he’s aligned with, if either.
There is a rich tradition of former generals becoming president. The first was George Washington; the most recent was Dwight David Eisenhower, nicknamed “Ike.”
The World War II hero ran and was elected easily in 1952 and 1956. His vice-president was Richard M. Nixon. And his opponent in both elections was Adali (we’re madly for Adali) Stevenson, an Illinois governor who later became the U.N. Ambassador in the Kennedy administration.
As a child during Eisenhower’s first bid for the White House, I used to watch the new TV in our home and take delight in hearing large crowds cheer for Eisenhower. But I soon became deeply disappointed and discouraged. My mother pointed out that I misunderstood what the crowds were shouting. They were saying “I like IKE
There is a rich tradition of former generals becoming president. The first was George Washington; the most recent was Dwight David Eisenhower, nicknamed “Ike.”
The World War II hero ran and was elected easily in 1952 and 1956. His vice-president was Richard M. Nixon. And his opponent in both elections was Adali (we’re madly for Adali) Stevenson, an Illinois governor who later became the U.N. Ambassador in the Kennedy administration.
As a child during Eisenhower’s first bid for the White House, I used to watch the new TV in our home and take delight in hearing large crowds cheer for Eisenhower. But I soon became deeply disappointed and discouraged. My mother pointed out that I misunderstood what the crowds were shouting. They were saying “I like IKE