Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) was the 34th president of the United States, serving from 1953 to 1961. Before his presidency, he was a five-star general and Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe during World War II, where he planned and led major campaigns including the North Africa campaign (Operation Torch) and the Normandy invasion (D-Day) in 1944

. Born in Denison, Texas, and raised in Abilene, Kansas, Eisenhower graduated from West Point in 1915 and married Mamie Geneva Doud in 1916. He served in various military roles during and between the world wars, eventually becoming the first supreme commander of NATO forces in Europe from 1951 to 1952

. As president, Eisenhower managed Cold War tensions, notably through the Eisenhower Doctrine aimed at limiting Soviet influence in the Middle East. He also oversaw postwar prosperity in the U.S., pursued moderate domestic policies, and enforced school desegregation by sending federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas. His presidency was marked by efforts to maintain peace and balance military strength with diplomacy

. Eisenhower warned against the growing power of the "military-industrial complex" in his farewell address and retired to his farm near Gettysburg after leaving office. He died in Washington, D.C., in 1969

. In summary, Eisenhower was a highly influential military leader and president who played a key role in World War II, NATO's early years, and Cold War U.S. policy.