Milton S. Eisenhower - Biography

Biography

He was born in Abilene, Kansas to Ida Elizabeth Stover (1862–1946) and David Jacob Eisenhower (1863–1942); the family was poor. Eisenhower attended public schools and graduated from Kansas State University in 1923 with a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial journalism. Eisenhower served as Director of Information for the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1928 to 1941, where he was a spokesman for the New Deal. In 1942, he was director of the War Relocation Authority, the U.S. civilian agency responsible for the relocation and internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, and from 1942 to 1943, associate director of the Office of War Information.

In 1943, Eisenhower became President of Kansas State University (his alma mater), a position he held until 1950. During this time, he also served as the first Chairman of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO. In this role, Eisenhower sought to also establish UNESCO commissions for each state. He personally organized the first such commission, in Kansas.

Eisenhower was often referred to as "Doctor." However, he did not hold an earned doctoral degree; instead, he had received an honorary doctorate of humane letters (D.H.L.) from the University of Nebraska in 1949. After leaving Kansas State University in 1950, Eisenhower served as President at two other universities:

• Pennsylvania State University (1950–56)
• Johns Hopkins University (1956–1967, and 1971–72)

Eisenhower was President Emeritus of Johns Hopkins University from 1967 to 1971, and in 1972.

In 1968, he was appointed Chairman of the U.S. National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

In 1980, Eisenhower appeared on the ballot in Texas as the running mate of Congressman John B. Anderson, Independent candidate for President of the United States.