Mamie Eisenhower's husband was one of the nation's most popular presidents, and she was a beloved and admired first lady. During the eight years she spent in the White House, Mrs. Eisenhower in many ways reflected conservative social values of the 1950s in her appearance and behavior: A gracious hostess, she was always smartly dressed and ready to lend her name and time to charitable concerns. In matters of public policy, however, she was almost completely inactive. She did not play a significant part in the presidential administration of Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969; see entry in volume 4)— other than her flawless performance at social functions; even in that respect, she was a feminine ideal of her era.

Valentine engagement

Born Mamie Doud on November 14, 1896, in Boone, Iowa, she was one of four daughters of a businessman who had made a fortune in the meatpacking business...