The General's Home After the Presidency

“Fifty evergreens lined the avenue from Waterworks Road to the farm residence, a gift of the Republican state committees” (21).

The Book

Going Home to Glory: A Memoir of Life with Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1961-1969 is part personal stories and part history. Authors David Eisenhower and Julie Nixon Eisenhower bring so much to the book because of their personal connection with Dwight D. Eisenhower. David is Eisenhower’s grandson and his wife, Julie, is the daughter of Richard M. Nixon. The book follows the last eight years of Eisenhower’s life which were also his years after the White House.

Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie, moved to their farm in Gettysburg, PA in 1961. It is a short drive from the White House to Gettysburg, and the small town was eager to become home to the president. The Eisenhower’s became involved in the community and their grandchildren were often visitors. David tells of his summers spent working on the farm and getting to know his grandfather in a context other than president. Eisenhower did not stay secluded at Gettysburg. He and Mamie traveled to homes in the south and west to visit friends and golf. Despite his retirement, Presidents Kennedy and Johnson sought Eisenhower’s advice on numerous issues.

Because Going Home to Glory is authored by Eisenhower’s family, the reader feels a personal connection to one of the First Families. Details are given on the presidential transfer of power, the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and presidential elections. The details are given through the lens of Eisenhower’s views, diary entries, and discussions with family. It is a unique way to learn more about American history.

The Place

The Eisenhower’s bought their farm in 1950 and it was the first home they owned as a married couple. They had moved thirty-three times during Eisenhower’s career with the Army. The farm included orchards, a putting green, a brick hut and patio, a skeet and trap shoot range, and a herd of cattle. In 1965, Eisenhower sold his cattle herd and he and Mamie deeded their land to the National Park Service, effective upon their deaths.

Today, visitors to the Gettysburg can tour the Eisenhower National Historic Site adjacent to the Gettysburg National Battlefield. You are able to tour both the house and farms to see what it was like when Eisenhower and Mamie lived there. The Historic Site also teaches visitors about Eisenhower’s service during World War II and as the president. It is a great experience to walk where an American leader during World War II and the Cold War walked. If you are traveling with children, there are two ways they can get a hands-on experience: the Junior Secret Service Agent Program and a virtual tour of the home.