Dwight D. Eisenhower served as president.
Dwight David `` Ike '' Eisenhower ( [ ˈaɪzənˌhaʊ.ər ] ; October 14 , 1890 -- March 28 , 1969 ) was an American politician and Army general who served as the 34th President of the United States from 1953 until 1961 . Eisenhower did not belong to any denomination until he was President . Since the late 20th century , consensus among Western scholars has consistently held Eisenhower as one of the greatest U.S. Presidents .