Historical Leader Synthesis: dwight D. Eisenhower

HISTORICAL LEADER SYNTHESIS ESSAY – DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

If you analyze historical battles and observe everything that was done to gain an advantage, it is unlikely that a conservative and effective strategy was always implemented. There are many instances where success meant excessive sacrifice of resources, or even worse--human lives. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was not wasteful in his planning, and he embodied the characteristics of a visionary leader. In this essay, I will provide a brief history of General Eisenhower’s life. I will also demonstrate transformational leadership qualities and link them to his personal growth and effectiveness, noting his progression from rather modest beginnings and his storybook evolution as a leader. Additionally, I will highlight how progressive thinking in a diverse environment led to his continued mission success as a military officer, even when superiors did not necessarily agree with his stance on various issues. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s charisma and intelligence undeniably led to his election as President of the United States. His success as a military leader during World War II was essential to his popularity in America. Rather than focus on what he did as the president, I will bring to light the accomplishments that got him there, tracing key aspects of his life and military career.

Dwight D. Eisenhower was born on October 14, 1890 in Denison, Texas. Shortly after that he spent a good deal of his youth in Abilene, Kansas. Eisenhower always had a passion for military history, and in 1911 he was accepted to West Point Military Academy. This was the start of his military career, and nothing about it indicated that he would ever be anything more than mediocre. He received a...

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... success and widespread popularity ultimately paved the way for him to become the 34th President of the United States.

Though the information I’ve provided is incredibly valuable, the history books are full of material that validates that Dwight D. Eisenhower was a visionary leader. He continuously rose to the challenge and proved that he was capable of preparing fighting forces and achieving mission objectives. Eisenhower was also an innovator that found smarter and more effective ways to do business. This is a key quality that he exuded and that the best visionary leaders of today possess, as it takes considerable skill to analyze the past and the present effectively enough to successfully predict how we should do things in the future. (Source B) His ability to be a leader was constantly validated, from his promotion to general to his election as president.