That Dwight D. Eisenhower became Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe, orchestrating the largest amphibious invasion in history on June 6, 1944, was far from inevitable.

He came from the middle of nowhere — Abilene, Kansas — had never led men in battle, spent most of his career as a staff officer, and didn’t make general until he was in his fifties.

How, then, did he become the leader on whom the fate of the world would rest?

Today, we trace the making of Ike with Michel Paradis, author of The Light of Battle. We talk about how Eisenhower’s Midwestern upbringing shaped his character, and how his most important education happened outside the classroom. Michel shares how crucial mentors were in Ike’s development, and how Eisenhower made the most of those relationships. We discuss the books that were most formative in shaping his thinking, including what he got from Nietzsche. We also get into some of the practices Eisenhower used to lead effectively, including how he budgeted his time to maintain his morale while under the pressure of planning D-Day and what he did the evening before the invasion to deal with the stress.

Resources Related to the Podcast

AoM Podcast #641: How Eisenhower Led — A Conversation with Ike’s Granddaughter
AoM series on Eisenhower’s leadership
AoM Podcast #996: Remembering D-Day 80 Years Later
The Line Man’s Bible: A Football Textbook of Detailed Instruction by Ernest Graves.
Sunday Firesides: You Never Know How Many Chapters Are Still to Come
Fox Conner
The Czar of Halfaday Creek by James B. Hendryx

Connect With Michel Paradis

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925: The OG Black Belt – Dr. Aaron Nicholas