David Eisenhower - Family Background

Family Background

David Eisenhower was born on March 31, 1948 in West Point, Orange County, New York to John and Barbara Eisenhower. His father was a U.S. Army officer, and his grandfather was future President the United States of America, and former Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War II, Dwight D. Eisenhower. His father would go on to be a brigadier general in the U.S. Army Reserve and U.S. Ambassador to Belgium (1969–1971), and is currently a military historian. His grandfather would become president of Columbia University (1948–1953), and later the 34th President of the United States (1953–1961). After assuming the presidency in 1953, President Eisenhower named the presidential mountain retreat, formerly Camp Shangri-La, Camp David, after his grandson.

On December 22, 1968, he married Julie Nixon, the daughter of the 37th President of the United States, Richard Nixon, who served as Dwight Eisenhower's Vice-President. The couple had known each other since meeting at the 1956 Republican National Convention. The Reverend Norman Vincent Peale officiated in the non-denominational rite at the Marble Collegiate Church in New York City. His best man was future Love Boat actor and congressman Fred Grandy.

He and Julie live in Pennsylvania. They have three children—actress Jennie Elizabeth Eisenhower (b. 1978), Alex Richard Eisenhower (b. 1980), and Melanie Catherine Eisenhower (b. 1984).