[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 166 (Friday, October 5, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S6629]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, this Sunday, October 14, 2018, we 
celebrate the 128th birthday of General and President Dwight D. 
Eisenhower. The last President born, in the 19th century, Ike came of 
age in both a changing nation and an ever-shrinking world. As Kansas' 
favorite son, Ike left an indelible mark on the Nation and on the 
world, from being appointed Supreme Allied Commander during the Second 
World War, to being duly elected as our President. Ike's character-
driven experiences guided him in all of his workings.
  Many remember important dates and events surrounding the life of 
General and President Eisenhower, but October 14, 1890, was probably 
like any other day in this changing Nation, and the world could not 
know that one of its staunchest supporters of peace and prosperity 
would be birthed on that day. President Eisenhower once said, ``When 
you finally find something that must be done, impossibilities disappear 
and become merely major obstacles.'' This determination and dedicated 
belief in America brought Ike from our Nation's heartland in Abilene, 
KS, to the U.S. Military Academy, to an extraordinary career in the 
Army, and to the Nation's Capital as a newly elected President.
  Among many attributes, Eisenhower embodied the undying American ideal 
that calls us to achieve more than the previous generation and to 
strive for a safer and more prosperous world for generations to come. 
Ike believed this to be his prime duty, and his determination and 
ability enabled him to achieve that goal. Eisenhower's historical 
achievements earned him the respect of most citizens in this Nation and 
from many around the globe.
  As Americans, we owe a great deal to the man who led the U.S. and 
Allied Forces in the liberation of Europe and expelled from the world 
the evil of Hitler's Nazism. Moreover, Ike's legacy as President 
included the creation of the Interstate Highway System, NASA, the 
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, now known as HHS and the 
Department of Education, and the FAA. He also brought Alaska and Hawaii 
into the Union.
  As the chairman of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission, I am 
pleased to report that the national memorialization of President and 
General Eisenhower is well underway and that the construction of the 
memorial honoring Ike is near the halfway point of completion. We have 
a dedication scheduled for May 8, 2020, marking the 75th anniversary of 
the Allied victory in Europe during the Second World War.
  Today I ask my fellow citizens and Senators to celebrate and 
memorialize this outstanding president, Kansan, and American by wishing 
Ike a happy 128th birthday.

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