Accuracy Project
    Mamie Eisenhower

    Mamie Eisenhower was the former First Lady of the United States (1953-61), and wife of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

    During the White House years, her chairmanship of the American Heart Association's fundraising efforts proved enormously successful. She's credited with raising public awareness of heart disease, substantially increasing donations and bringing about a significant increase in the number of AHA volunteers.

    Mamie Eisenhower
    Mamie Eisenhower
    Biographical fast facts

    Full, original or maiden name at birth: Mamie Geneva Doud *

    Date, time and place of birth: November 14, 1896, at 1:00 p.m., at 718 Carroll Street, Boone, Iowa, U.S.A. **

    Date, time, place and cause of death: November 1, 1979, at 1:35 a.m., Walter Reed Medical Center, Washington D.C. (Cardiac arrest/Stroke)

    Marriage
    Spouse: Dwight Eisenhower (m. July 1, 1916 - March 28, 1969) (his death)
    Wedding took place at 12 noon, in the first-floor music room of the Doud family home at 750 Lafayette Street, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. ***

    Children
    Sons: Doud Dwight "Icky" Eisenhower (b. September 24, 1917, Denver, Colorado - d. January 2, 1921, Camp Meade, Maryland, of scarlet fever)
    John Sheldon Doud Eisenhower (b. August 3, 1922, Denver, Colorado - present)

    Family/Relatives
    Siblings: Eleanor Carlson Doud (b. June 27, 1895 - d. January 18, 1912, of heart failure)
    Eda Mae Doud (b. December 23, 1900 - d. November 9, 1918)
    Mabel Frances "Mike" Doud (b. October 6th, 1902 - d. October 15th, 1988) (sisters)

    Parents
    Father: John Sheldon Doud (b. November 18, 1870 - d. June 23, 1951) (owned a meatpacking business and also a livestock business)
    Mother: Elvira Mathilde Carlson Doud (sometimes spelled Elivera Mathilda Carlson Doud) (b. May 13, 1878, Boone, Iowa - d. September 28, 1960, Denver, Colorado, of complications from a stroke)

    Burial site: Place of Meditation, Eisenhower Library, Abilene, Kansas, U.S.A.

    Error corrections or clarifications

    * Contrary to many published reports, Mamie was actually christened Mamie Geneva Doud, not "Marie Geneva Doud," or "Mary Geneva Doud." Mamie's own family has repeatedly addressed this issue and quashed these rumors, but for some reason, this erroneous data continues to resurface.

    ** Mamie Eisenhower was not born at 709 Carroll Street on the grounds of the present-day Mamie Doud Eisenhower Birthplace Museum and Library. In 1975, her birthplace home was moved from its original location across the street at 718 Carroll Street, to its present location at 709 Carroll Street.

    *** A newspaper marriage announcement reversed the last two digits of the Doud family's home address, erroneously reporting Mamie married Lieutenant Eisenhower at "705 Lafayette" in Denver, instead of the correct address of 750 Lafayette Street, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.

    Some final corrections and clarifications:
    Doud Dwight Eisenhower's nickname was originally "Little Ike" but it was changed within a few days of his birth to "Ikey" then changed again to "Ikky" and was spelled that way throughout his short life. Years later, "Icky" became the preferred spelling, and even former President Eisenhower began offering that spelling in his memoirs.

    Some sources erroneously report John Sheldon Doud Eisenhower died back in the 1960s. In fact, he lived decades beyond that point, continuing to write, and even published a new work of military history, Yanks: The Epic Story of the American Army in World War I, in 2001.


    All of the following publications, in some past editions, have offered erroneous birth data on Mamie Eisenhower

    Grolier's The American Presidents

    Americana Encyclopedia Annual

    The Book of Presidents by Tim Taylor

    Encyclopedia Britannica


    It is not our intent to denigrate these fine publications, but merely to point out the above inaccuracy to prevent further circulation of the erroneous data.


    Sources

    The most in-depth of more than four dozen sources consulted in preparing this profile:
    In Review, Pictures I've Kept, by Dwight D. Eisenhower (1969)
    Mrs. Ike: Portrait of a Marriage, by Susan Eisenhower (2002)
    Dwight D. Eisenhower: Soldier, President, Statesman, edited by Joann P. Krieg (1987)
    Eisenhower: A Centennial Life, by Michael R. Beschloss (1990)
    Eisenhower, by Stephen E. Ambrose (1990)
    Dwight D. Eisenhower: A Man Called Ike, by Jean Darby (1989)
    Ike and Mamie: The Story of the General and His Lady, by Lester and Irene David.


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    Biography - Hobbies
    Mamie was the second of four daughters born to a prominent Denver businessman and his wife. As a child, she attended Denver public schools, but when the Colorado winters became too much for her mother, the Doud family began wintering in San Antonio, Texas. Her education was thus divided between the two cities, but was completed at a private Denver finishing school for girls. Her older sister Eleanor had a heart condition, and was in frail health most of her life. Eleanor's death in 1912 cast a shadow over what had been a relatively carefree childhood for Mamie.

    While in San Antonio, Texas in October 1915, she met the man who would become the center of her life, the liberator of World War II Europe, and ultimately, the leader of the free world. Dwight D. Eisenhower's courtship of young Mamie was brief. They were formally engaged Valentine's Day 1916. The couple had originally planned a November wedding, but circumstances forced them to move the date up several months. At 12 noon on July 1st, 1916, they were wed in the first-floor music room of the Doud family home at 750 Lafayette Street, Denver, Colorado. The ceremony was performed by the Reverend William Williamson, visiting from Leicester, England.

    The newlyweds set up housekeeping in Ike's bachelor quarters at Fort Sam Houston. It would be the first of more than thirty homes they would share, as necessitated by his military and political career. She often moved with Ike to various Army posts around the world as he quickly worked his way up in the ranks. Conditions during the early years were sometimes less than ideal. One good example was their "home" in the Panama Canal Zone, which leaked badly during the frequent torrential rains, and was infested with bats. Mrs. Eisenhower, who had been raised in prosperous surroundings, admitted that it was actually Ike who taught her to cook. Military life necessitated a change of mindset from her previous affluent upbringing. She became a frugal shopper and continued her thrifty ways long after her husband's pay made it unnecessary.

    They had two sons, Doud Dwight Eisenhower, born September 24th, 1917, and     John Sheldon Doud Eisenhower, born August 3rd, 1922. Tragically, their first son died of scarlet fever at the age of three. His death remained an open wound from which the couple would never fully recover.

    Though she tried to be by her husband's side as much as possible, there were long stretches--especially during World War II--when it was simply impossible. As one might expect, she occasionally suffered from loneliness due to long separations from her husband. Mamie saw even less of him when he was named Supreme Commander of World War II Allied Forces (1943-45). In the 1940s, she did a great deal of volunteer work for the Red Cross and at an Army canteen in Washington in support of U.S. servicemen.

    Following the defeat of Nazi Germany, his duties as the U.S. Army chief of staff (1945-48), continued to keep Ike busy, and Mamie was sometimes still waiting at home for her General to return. At least now, he wasn't half a world away, as he'd been during the war.

    It was during the period     General Eisenhower served as President of Columbia University (1948-53), that they purchased a farmhouse at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was the first real home they owned together.

    During her eight years as first lady of the United States (1953-61), she and President Eisenhower entertained more heads of state than any of their predecessors. Mrs. Eisenhower was known for her short hairstyle, trademark bangs, and her favorite color, pink. Not only were her outfits frequently pink, but pink was a central color in the decor of their private quarters at the White House.

    Mamie suffered from Meniere's Disease, a disorder of the inner ear. It caused her to suffer bouts of severe dizziness that caused her to stumble at times. This resulted in false rumors that she was an alcoholic based on her public stumbling.

    Following two terms in the White House, they retired to their Gettysburg farm. Mamie had overseen the major reconstruction of the home, and they were finally able to actually enjoy some quiet time alone. They traveled extensively, Ike was able to really enjoy his golf, and they were both doting grandparents.

    Mamie's frugal disposition didn't change following the White House years. The former first lady often did her own grocery shopping after carefully studying the advertised weekly specials. She could be seen pushing her cart down the aisles, her coupons in hand, searching for the best values. This, and the fact that she always insisted on waiting her turn at the checkout line, further endeared her to local residents, and illustrated her unpretentious nature.

    Ike's health worsened as the 1960s progressed. He died March 28th, 1969, and Mamie followed him November 1st, 1979.

    Hobbies/sidelines:
    Mrs. Eisenhower played the piano, organ, enjoyed dancing, sewing, and quite enjoyed playing cards. She was especially fond of bridge, mahjong and canasta. Mamie planned all aspects of state events at the White House during Ike's two terms in office, and was active in fundraising activities for several organizations and charities. She was also instrumental in raising funds to establish a home for Army widows who, at the time, received minimal benefits from the government. Originally called the Army Distaff Home, it was founded to provide affordable, secure retirement housing and health care services for Army widows. Mamie helped break ground for the facility which opened its doors in 1962, and was named Knollwood.


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