PRESIDENT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER - INSCRIBED PHOTOGRAPH MOUNT SIGNED - HFSID 277712

DWIGHT DAVID EISENHOWER
This rare b/w photograph was taken at Camp David and signed with the rare signature "Ike" - a popular nickname for Eisenhower that he himself rarely used. Eisenhower is shown in this photograph with a general who served under him in World War II and two businessmen who knew Eisenhower during his presidency of Columbia University. Comes framed in a 17x15 wooden frame.
Inscribed photograph mount signed "For Barry-/The final session at Camp David/Ike", with "1/15/61" in unknown hand in pencil.  B/w, 9¼x5½, mounted in 17x15 wooden frame. With tag on back of frame: "B. T. Leithead/Gen Gruenther/Pete Jones/General Eisenhower/1/15/61". This is a rare photograph of Eisenhower taken at Camp David. It's signed "Ike", a popular nickname for Eisenhower he himself rarely used or signed. A tag on the back of the photo identifies the other three men in this photograph as Barry Leithead, General Alfred M. Gruenther and William Alton "Pete" Jones. Gruenther had served under Eisenhower during World War II. After the war, he served as Supreme Commander of NATO from 1953 to 1956 and then as president of the American Red Cross from 1957 to 1964. Leithead and Jones were both businessmen and company officers - Leithead with Cluett, Peabody & Co., which manufactures Arrow shirts, and Jones with New York oil company Cities Service Company. The two knew Eisenhower when he was president of Columbia University from 1948 to 1953. In 1952, Eisenhower (1890-1969, born in Denison, Texas) became the fifth General elected President because of his military leadership during wartime (the others were George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Zachary Taylor and Ulysses S. Grant). He headed the Allied Invasion of French North Africa (November 1942-May 1943) and directed the Allied Expeditionary Forces that invaded Normandy on June 6, 1944, recaptured France and overcame Germany. Appointed by President Harry S Truman, he served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army from November 19, 1945 to February 7, 1949. Eisenhower's efforts in that capacity included the unification of the armed services under a centralized command and the demobilization of the wartime army. Eisenhower, who accepted the surrender of Germany on May 7, 1945, became a highly respected officer of the U.S. Army, and his popularity carried him into the presidency. Serving as the nation's 34th President from 1953 to 1961, Eisenhower, like Grant, was a graduate of West Point and had held no previous elective office before becoming President. Ironically, Eisenhower and Grant were the only two Republican Presidents to serve two complete four-year terms until Ronald Reagan took office. Extremely popular, "Ike" was the first U.S. President constitutionally ineligible to run for a third term in 1960. Like Washington and Jackson, Eisenhower became an active farmer after serving his two terms as President. Framed by unknown individual. Photograph is lightened and lightly silvered, especially around edges. Signature is lightly smeared. Otherwise in fine condition.