by two qualities …
the one touch of genius he had
candour, decency
The one touch of genius he had was that of a peacemaker among Americans, Englishmen, Frenchmen, Poles, bristling with national pride and driven by ambition. It may be, in fact, that such immortality as Eisenhower achieves will be guaranteed by two qualities that do not usually, in a worldly world, guarantee a man much more than the affection of his friends: by the force of them, Eisenhower was able to make trusting friends of about 250 million people fighting for their lives. They are candour and decency.
From the Letter to America titled simply, Eisenhower April 3, 1969. by Alistair Cooke as reprinted in the book, America observed : the newspaper years of Alistair Cooke, Penguin Books, London, 1989.
It was Cooke’s obituary of D. D. Eisenhower.
As Barbara Holland writes in the delightful, Hail to the Chiefs ( Berkley Books, New York, 2004):
One of the coziest things about Ike was that he never worried much. When people handed him worrying papers to read, he just smiled and handed them right back. He didn’t even worry about Senator McCarthy. He pretended there wasn’t any Senator McCarthy. He just blinked and got in his helicopter and went out to Burning Tree to play a Few holes before dinner. He figured it he paid no attention McCarthy would just go a way, and presently the Senate got fed up and censured the gentleman from Wisconsin and he did go away, sputtering and fumbling with his lists and still needing a shave, so Ike was right not to worry.
Candor ( Mr. Cooke used Candour).
Decency.
Right not to worry.
I like Ike.
Boy Howdy, do I miss him.
No Haiku For You 