World War II constituted one of the greatest existential threats to the United States and the American way of life. But for the sacrifice of millions of American men and women who answered the call of duty to serve in the armed forces, the outcome of the conflict could have been very different. Two such men — General Dwight Eisenhower and Colonel Ralph Hauenstein — played an instrumental role in delivering a victory for the United States against Nazi forces in Europe. In celebration of what would have been Ralph Hauenstein’s 109th birthday, his grandson, Brian Hauenstein, joined David Eisenhower, the grandson of General and President Dwight Eisenhower, in a virtual discussion sponsored by the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, to discuss the impact these men had in “saving civilization.” David and Brian recounted stories about their grandfathers’ work collecting critical intelligence and leading Allied forces in the D-Day invasion of Normandy. You do not want to miss the riveting accounts of two American heroes’ respective journeys across war-torn Europe as told by some of the people who knew the men best. A recording of this discussion can also be found on the Hauenstein Center’s YouTube page.
The story of the Hauenstein Center's namesake, Colonel Ralph W. Hauenstein, is also the story of the European Theater of U.S. Operations, led by General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Under General Eisenhower, Ralph served as Chief of the Intelligence Branch in the Army’s European Theater. Intelligence played a vital role in the planning and execution of D-Day, yet much remains to be told.
To honor Ralph on what would be his 109th birthday, the Hauenstein Center and our partners at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and Library were proud to welcome author and historian David Eisenhower. David shared stories about his grandfather and related his insights into Ralph’s work in intelligence during World War II. Ralph’s own grandson, Brian Hauenstein joined David Eisenhower for a discussion about their grandfathers and the crossing of their legacies.
Watch the Program Here
When
March 18, 2021
Program Supporters
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum
About David Eisenhower
David Eisenhower is the Director of the Institute for Public Service at the Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of Eisenhower at War: 1943-1945, a New York Times best-seller and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in history in 1987. Educated at Philips Exeter Academy, Amherst College, and George Washington University Law School, he is the son of John and Barbara Eisenhower, and the grandson of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He is married to the former Julie Nixon, younger daughter of President Richard Nixon.
