Dwight D. Eisenhower was a leader.
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 . He was a five-star general in the United States Army during World War II and served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe . In 1951 -- 52 , he served as the first Supreme Commander of NATO .