Going Home to Glory

April 11, 2011
This memoir of our 34th president tells the story of the relationship between a boy and his grandfather. Anyone who has had a fulfilling relationship with a grandparent will find much in common with the one detailed here, with the singular exception that the grandfather in question is a General of the U.S. Army, hero of WWII, former two-term president, and four-time Gallup Poll Most Admired American honoree, Dwight David Eisenhower. If the book falls short, it's in its over-detailed recounting of Eisenhower's post-presidency years and tentative forays into influencing the tumultuous political landscape of America in the 1960s. This is well-trod territory, as much has already been written about Eisenhower by others (and by Eisenhower himself), in works such as Crusade in Europe. This book's strength comes from the rarified viewpoint of David's experiences growing up in a deeply political family, belonging to a tiny conservative minority in Amherst, and recounting his personal letters and conversations with his iconic grandfather. The most powerful portion of the book is devoted to Eisenhower's death, ultimately symbolizing the death of trust in government spawned, ironically, by Eisenhower's protégé, Richard Nixon.