Jun 05, 2019 for decades, rumors have persisted that gen. Eisenhower resigned as supreme allied commander in europe. Harry williams, the popular view of general eisenhowers military career was as, the friendly, folksy, easy going soldier who reflects the ideals of a democratic and industrial civilization and who cooperates. Eisenhower and his irishborn driver and supposed paramour, kay summersby. Eisenhower serves as supreme commander of the allied forces in europe. Armed with a driving licence then rare for women her liberation. Eisenhower letters hint at affair with aide the new york. Everyone was talking about them general dwight d eisenhower, supreme allied commander for europe, and his irishborn driver, kay summersby the gossip was that the american general the driving force behind operation torch, the invasion of sicily and italy and the planning for dday was having an affair with his driver, 18 years his junior.
Eisenhower on their list, citing a wartime affair with his driver, kay summersby. Throughout the darkest days of the second world war, ike spent untold hours toiling with his female driver and later personal secretary, kay summersby. There is no evidence to be certain about whether they had an affair or not. Here, at long last, is the true story of the passionate, moving secret love affair between general dwight d. Eisenhower was supreme allied commander in charge of all forces involved in operation overlord and the invasion of normandy. Eisenhower had an affair with his wartime secretary and driver, kay summersby a rumor that followed ike throughout world war ii. Eisenhower letters hint at affair with aide the new york times. Eisenhower had an affair with his personal driver, kay summersby, while he was leading u.
Eisenhower, 34th president of the united states, promoted atoms for peace at the united nations general assembly in order to ease cold war tensions. Rives says no documentary evidence has ever proven that such a liaison occurred. She died at her home in southampton, long island, of cancer, on 20 january 1975, at the age. Eisenhower, as supreme commander of allied forces during world war ii, led the massive invasion of nazioccupied europe that began on d. Kay summersby, appears likely to stir renewed debate over whether the. George pattons wife put a hawaiian curse on his ex. What kept him sane was his secret liaison with his driver, an irish former model, writes the author of a new novel. Seventh army in the mediterranean theater of world war ii, and the u. Alls fair in love and war 11 famous military leaders who. You can see fascinating details like the five stars on ikes trench coat collar and pattons custommade uniform with his special pistol grips on the gun sticking out of. Baby you can drive my car author explores eisenhowers. With ike, rumors were steamier than facts the washington post. Wars end made nonperson of eisenhowers devoted shadow.
Kay summersby was the generals driver, companion and perhaps more, but she was deleted from an official photo, included only in a list of aides in his war diary, and died unhappy and alone. After leaving the service in 1947, summersby settled in the united states, and was, at one point, engaged to a man in san francisco who thought she had money. Eisenhower wrote to his wife at least weekly, according to mr. It was long rumored that the general was having an affair with her but she does not reveal it. The usual example cited in various media is the alleged affair during world war ii between gen. Is it good that a scandal about eisenhower didnt disrupt the war in europe. It is obvious from her writing that she was truly in love with him. Gen hobart of the funnies tank fame was montys brother in law. What kept him sane was his secret liaison with his driver, an irish former.
Jean gordon, left, was found dead in a gasfilled apartment after gen. It, however, also has done dwight eisenhower a disservice. The myth of ike and kay summersby part ii armchair general. Even then, the summersbyeisenhower relationship was not over. General dwight eisenhower had many reasons to fall for his driver and. The affair became public only after summersby penned a. Ii, gossips reported that he fell in love with kay summersby, an attractive young english fashion model who was his driver and personal assistant. The following article on eisenhower and dday is an excerpt from barrett tillman dday encyclopedia. She hints about it and dodges the question enough to leave the reader wondering. A book written by general eisenhowers driver during his time in england. Before long it had become a cross mamie was obliged to bear. Kay summersby, appears likely to stir renewed debate over whether the two were lovers during the last year of world war ii. Amy davidson sorkin has been a staff writer at the new yorker since 2014. November 11, 1885 december 21, 1945 was a general of the united states army who commanded the u.
Wall street journal reports on swcs eisenhower dday letter. Stung by tales of his fathers infidelity, john eisenhower. Wars end made nonperson of eisenhower s devoted shadow. Ikes relationship with kay summersby, his driver and aid during world war ii, is among the most debated topics by eisenhower biographers.
While eisenhowers personal life was decidedly less exciting than macarthurs, the straightshooting future president was also dogged by whispers of infidelity. Eisenhower had to balance family life against the obligations of military life. Born in denison, texas, in 1890, eisenhower graduated from the united states military academy in 1915. Eisenhower had a wartime love affair with his driver, capt. Sep 05, 2018 during world war ii, general dwight d. The end of world war ii in europe signaled the end of the road for chauffeur kay summersbys threeyear relationship with her boss, gen. An essay about petraeus in the december 17, 2012 new yorker by dexter filkins responsibly refers to ikes longalleged affair with his world war ii chauffeur. Rives says no documentary evidence has ever proven that. Everyone was talking about them general dwight d eisenhower, supreme allied commander for europe, and his irishborn driver, kay summersby. Leaving office in 1961, eisenhower retired to his farm in gettysburg, pennsylvania.
Jun 06, 1991 a previously unknown collection of wartime letters from gen. And so, when gossip about ikes rumored wartime affair with kay summersby, his blueeyed irish driver secretary, first broke into print three years ago, john chose to suffer in silence. At various times during the 1920s and 1930s, he and mamie lived in paris and the panama canal zone, washington, d. The gossip was that the american general the driving force behind operation torch, the invasion of sicily and italy and the planning for dday was having an affair with his driver, 18 years his junior. In 1976, in a candid memoir, past forgetting written just before her death, kay summersby confirmed her love affair with eisenhower. Kay summersby was the generals driver, companion and perhaps more, but she was deleted from an official photo.
Summersby penned all of the entries in the 1945 diary. It was a strange quirk of fate then, that would set up an attractive aristrocratic young irish woman named kay summersby as eisenhowers staff driver. Although kay summersby, the generals secretary, wrote and maintained the desk diaries, eisenhower made 38 handwritten entries in the 1944 volume. Jun 07, 1991 a previously unknown collection of wartime letters from gen. The affair became public only after summersby penned a biography. Watch eisenhower american experience official site pbs. John sheldon doud eisenhower august 3, 1922 december 21, 20 was a united states army officer, diplomat, and military historian. Kay summersby, appears likely to stir renewed debate over whether the two were lovers during. General dwight david eisenhower is best remembered as the military leader who led allied forces in europe to victory in world war ii. On a personal level, he has an extramarital affair with his driver kay summersby.
Out of a remarkable class that was to produce 59 generals, eisenhower ranked 61st academically. When gunfire ended, so did ikes war romance the seattle times. Eisenhower during his period as supreme commander allied expeditionary force in command of the allied forces in north west europe. By early 1943, ikes wife mamie was already hearing the name kay summersby all too regularly.
Eisenhower, supreme commander of the allied forces in europe, and kay summersby, the beautiful english fashion model who became his driver in wartime london, his staff aide, by his side through every crisis and highlevel meeting of the war and the woman he. Eisenhower, his decorated military career spanned from before, during, and after his fathers presidency, and he retired from active duty in 1963 and then altogether in 1974. The gossip was that the american general the driving force behind. Nov 20, 2015 everyone was talking about them general dwight d eisenhower, supreme allied commander for europe, and his irishborn driver, kay summersby the gossip was that the american general the driving force behind operation torch, the invasion of sicily and italy and the planning for dday was having an affair with his driver, 18 years his junior. What kept him sane was his secret liaison with his driver, an irish former model, writes the author of a new novel about the couple. Dwight eisenhower recalls world war ii service as witness to history now a resident at friendship manor in isla vista, leo maczulak talks ike, gen. The application of stick to skin was a routine affair. When eisenhower took command in north africa in late 1942, kay accompanied him. A previously unknown collection of wartime letters from gen.
A moderate republican, eisenhower s eight years in the white house were marked by the end of the korean war, efforts to contain communism, construction of the instate highway system, nuclear deterrence, founding of nasa, and economic prosperity. You can see fascinating details like the five stars on ikes trench coat collar and pattons custommade uniform with his special pistol grips on the gun sticking out of his holster. See more ideas about eisenhower, dwight eisenhower, kay. Eisenhower resigns 1952 today in history 28 apr 18. Eisenhower and summersby at a belated ve day celebration in london, may 15, 1945. She married the wall street stockbroker reginald h. Eisenhower and kay summersbys romance was denied by. The cork woman who helped ike win the war independent. Apr 24, 2017 jean gordon, left, was found dead in a gasfilled apartment after gen. Lonely, and at a distance from his wife in more ways than one, ike began to have an affair with kay, who found him highly attractive and handsome, and was turned on by his hard muscular body. Before long her frequent presence with eisenhower became the object of considerable gossip.
Zhukov, an outspoken enemy of pattons, had pressured eisenhower to get rid of patton. Patton, right, at his last news conference on may 21, 1945, at his headquarters in germany. Eisenhower, supreme commander of the allied forces in europe, and kay summersby, the beautiful english fashion model who became his driver in wartime london, his staff aide, by his side through every crisis and highlevel meeting of the war. Jun 17, 2016 while eisenhowers personal life was decidedly less exciting than macarthurs, the straightshooting future president was also dogged by whispers of infidelity. Duty took him to many different locations within the united states and around the world. A moderate republican, eisenhowers eight years in the white house were marked by the end of the korean war, efforts to contain communism, construction of the instate highway system, nuclear deterrence, founding of nasa, and economic prosperity. The photo shows a field meeting between left to right gen.
When life magazine carried a cover story on eisenhower in 1943, kay was in shot behind him. Dwight eisenhower, allied superme commander, and his party enjoy a belated victory over europe ve day celebration during a surprise visit to london on may 15, 1945. Kathleen helen summersby bem known as kay summersby, was a member of the british mechanised transport corps during world war ii, who served as a chauffeur and later as personal secretary to dwight d. Eisenhower, also inscribed in gold lettering, distinguishes the tan leather cover of the 1945 diary. Detailed revelations of eisenhowers wartime dalliance with driver dont derail his leg gen. Mar 26, 2019 a book written by general eisenhowers driver during his time in england. Ike eisenhower was a very comfortable man to be with, kay summersby was attractive, sympathetic, vivacious one infers, lacking evidence here, and during long drives and talks, over nightly bridge games in his hideaway.
Her face was censored from the official photo taken by technical sgt. Ike s family and kays wartime friends said there was no romance. Ikes aide wants to put rumor to rest baltimore sun. Eisenhower graduated from this school when it was previously known as the army industrial college. Al meserlin, ikes personal photographer, on that may morning in 1945 when the germans surrendered at the redbrick. I dont like ike reassessing general dwight eisenhowers. Is it now confirmed that dwight eisenhower had an affair. Eisenhower school for national security and resource strategy is a senior war college of the department of defenses national defense university in washington, dc. Eisenhower protected patton after sicily, another sign of an old boys network. The pressure of supreme allied command almost broke eisenhower. Eisenhower and bradley at the weekend retreat on the french riveria with their mistresses discussed the breakup of germany. Price, a semiretired chestertown businessman, historian and writer, recently wrote to me about the rumored world war ii affair between gen.
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