A man who helped point the way, 34th President of the United States, Dwight David Eisenhower (1890-1969) was born on this day in Denison, Texas and raised in Abilene, Kansas, the third of seven sons. He was a born leader known for his strength and integrity.

"A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done," he said.

A West Point graduate with a reputation for trustworthiness, "Ike," as he was endearingly called, married Mamie Doud Eisenhower in 1916. "When you are in any contest, you should work as if there were to the very last minute a chance to lose it. This is battle, this is politics, this is anything," he once said.

Eisenhower served brilliantly with General Douglas MacArthur in the Philippines (1935-1939), led the invasion of North Africa (1942), and was the Allied Commander who directed the 1944 D-Day Invasion.

Although he was a superb soldier and national hero, he said of combat, "I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its stupidity."

Elected to two presidential terms, the popular moderate Republican established NASA, sponsored the Highway Act of 1956 to create the interstate highway system, and most importantly, fought hard for peace.

"The United States never lost a soldier or a foot of ground in my administration. We kept the peace." he said proudly. "People ask how it happened - by God, it didn't just happen, I'll tell you that."

"The only way to win World War III is to prevent it."

Let the past point the way.