Dwight D. Eisenhower

1890–1969 · Allied supreme commander & 34th U.S. president

Eisenhower commanded the Allied invasion of Europe and then served two terms as president, from 1953 to 1961. He is the target of this quote rather than its author: the John Birch Society’s founder, Robert Welch, had branded him an agent of the communist conspiracy, which made a warm Eisenhower blessing the single most valuable endorsement the society could not get. What his office did concede, through an aide, was narrower and much colder — that among the society’s members were “many devoted citizens” loyal to the United States, said explicitly without approving of the society itself.

Traced to source

9 quotes we’ve traced to Dwight D. Eisenhower

“Don't join the book burners. Don't think you are going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed”

Verified

“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed”

Verified

“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex”

Verified

“Plans are worthless, but planning is everything”

Verified

“Biggest damfool mistake I ever made”

Disputed

“Get it all on record now – get the films – get the witnesses – because somewhere down the track of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened”

Disputed

“The John Birch Society is a good, patriotic society. I don't agree with what its founder said about me, but that does not detract from the fact that its membership is comprised of many fine Americans dedicated to the preservation of our libertarian Republic”

Disputed

“Things are more like they are now than they ever have been”

Disputed

“What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important”

Disputed

Not actually Dwight D. Eisenhower

Often misattributed to Dwight D. Eisenhower

Famous lines widely pinned on Dwight D. Eisenhower that we’ve traced to someone else.

“Don't just do something; stand there”

actually Martin Gabel

“He is suffering from delusions of adequacy”

actually Walter Kerr

actually No documented speaker

“Things are more like they are now than they ever have been”

actually Unknown humorist

“What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important”

An unnamed “former college president” — quoted by Dwight D. Eisenhower

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