An increase in the basic first class mail postage rate caused the issuance of this stamp, with the same essential design as an earlier one with a face value of six cents. Note there is no dot between "EISENHOWER" and "USA."

Although there are controversies surrounding his military and political careers, there is agreement that Dwight D. Eisenhower, "Ike," was among the most beloved popular heroes of his time. Born in Denison, TX, Eisenhower graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1915. He was refused an overseas combat assignment during World War I and then established himself as a top organizer and trainer of men.

Following the war, along with George S. Patton, he was one of the early advocates of mobile armored tactics. Acclaimed as a good staff officer, he was named administrative assistant to Army Chief of Staff Douglas MacArthur in 1933, and accompanied him to the Philippines in 1935. With the beginning of World War II, Eisenhower was named chief of staff of the Third Army in 1941.

Following a brief stint under George C. Marshall in Washington, Eisenhower was named U.S. commander in Europe in June 1942. He commanded the invasion of North Africa in November 1942, followed by the conquest of Sicily and invasion of Italy in 1943. He drew brief, but intense, criticism for extending recognition to French leaders who had collaborated with the Germans. He commanded the forces at the Normandy invasion, a military venture unparalleled in the history of warfare.

Following World War II, Eisenhower briefly was army chief of staff, wrote his memoirs of the conflict in Europe, and became president of Columbia University. He rejected offers to run for the presidency of the United States as a Democrat in 1948. Two years later, President Harry Truman named Eisenhower military commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) because the Korean War was underway. Fears concerning a Soviet invasion of Europe increased .

Being more politically allied with the Republicans, Eisenhower ran for the presidency in 1952 on that ticket. Personally indifferent to the black civil rights movement, as president he sent troops to enforce school desegregation in Little Rock, AR, in 1957. He signed civil rights acts in 1957 and 1960. Two major federal public works projects begun under his administration were the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Interstate Highway System. His foreign policy was built around two issues: a tough stance in the Cold War against communism and the maintenance of peace.