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Mary Geneva Doud Eisenhower (November 14, 1896 – November 1, 1979) was the first lady of the United States from 1953 to 1961 as the wife of the 34th president of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Mamie Eisenhower | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 1954 | |
| First Lady of the United States | |
| In role January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961 | |
| President | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Preceded by | Bess Truman |
| Succeeded by | Jacqueline Kennedy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mary Geneva Doud November 14, 1896 Boone, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | November 1, 1979 (aged 82) Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Resting place | Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children |
|
As first lady, Eisenhower managed the expenses and schedules of the White House. She closely managed the staff, the White House budgeting throughout her tenure.
Eisenhower was popular as first lady, and was regarded as a fashion icon. She was known her stylish hair bangs and wearing the color pink.
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Early life and education
Mary Geneva Doud was born on November 14, 1896, in Boone, Iowa. She was the second child of John Sheldon Doud and his wife Elivera Mathilda Carlson.[1][2]
Her mother was a daughter of Swedish immigrants.[3] Her father ran a meatpacking company until he retired at age 36.
Doud had three sisters named Eleanor Carlson Doud, Eda Mae Doud and Mabel Frances Doud.[2] She was sent to Wolcott School for Girls to finish school.[3]
Marriage and family
Doud began dating Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1915, when he was a second lieutenant. They were introduced to each other while her family was visiting a friend at Fort Sam Houston.[4]
They got engaged on Valentine's Day, on February 14, 1916. They later got married on July 1, 1916, in Denver, Colorado. Their first, Doud Eisenhower, was born on September 24, 1917. He later died of scarlet fever at 3 years old on January 2, 1921. Their second son, John Eisenhower, was born in Denver on August 3, 1922.[5]
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Eisenhower became the first lady of the United States when her husband was sworn in as the 34th president on January 20, 1953. As first lady, Eisenhower was mostly interested in social issues, including women's issues and civil rights. She desired to see women elected to Congress, and sponsored several women's clubs. She also invited Black women to the White House, including Marian Anderson and the National Council of Negro Women.[6]
Eisenhower also supported include soldiers' benefits, civil defense, blood drives, and the United Nations. After her husband's heart attack, she chaired fundraising for the American Heart Association.[7]
Eisenhower was highly active during the Christmas season and she had the White House heavily decorated for the holiday and bought gifts for the White House staff.[8] In 1958, she was the first person to start Halloween decorations for the White House.[9]
Fashion
Eisenhower was known for her sense of fashion, and many women were influenced by her style.[10] The New York Dress Institute named her one of the 12 best-dressed women every year that she was first lady. Her style was known as the "Mamie Look", as she wore full-skirted dresses, pink gloves, charm bracelets, pearls, little hats, purses, bobbed banged hair.[10][11][12]
She owned many cosmetics and perfumes, and often visited a beauty spa to maintain her appearance.[13] Eisenhower's love of the color pink, often called "First Lady" or "Mamie" pink and later started kicked a national trend for pink clothing, housewares, and bathrooms.[11][14][15]
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Eisenhower had a stroke on September 25, 1979 and she was rushed to Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Eisenhower remained in the hospital, and she died in her sleep on the morning of November 1, 1979, she was 82 years old.[16] A memorial service was held in the Fort Myer chapel on November 5 and she was later buried beside her husband in Abilene, Kansas.[17]
Eisenhower's birthplace is open to the public and operated by the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Foundation.[18] She was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 1985.[19]
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