Eisenhower's heart attack
Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, suffered a significant heart attack on September 24, 1955, while vacationing in Colorado. Despite appearing healthy and charismatic to the public, Eisenhower had long dealt with various health issues, including high blood pressure and digestive problems, which were exacerbated by his smoking. After his heart attack, which required urgent medical attention, Eisenhower was incapacitated for a week. This health crisis marked the beginning of a series of serious medical challenges during his presidency, including an ileitis attack and a slight stroke in 1957. The implications of his heart attack extended beyond his health, as it necessitated adjustments in the vice presidency, allowing Richard Nixon to assume presidential duties during Eisenhower's incapacitation. This situation prompted a shift in public discourse around presidential health, leading to greater scrutiny of the medical records of future candidates. Eisenhower's experiences highlight the intersection of leadership and personal health in the context of political responsibility.
Eisenhower's heart attack
The Event President Dwight D. Eisenhower had a heart attack that made his health a national issue
Date September 24, 1955
Eisenhower’s heart attack led to concern about the president’s ability to serve in office and run for a second term in 1956. Although the White House was secretive about some aspects of the president’s illness, in comparison with previous presidential medical conditions it was rather straightforward. Not only did the incident increase public awareness of heart disease; it also made the subject of presidential health an acceptable topic for press discussion.
Before becoming president of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower had suffered from intestinal problems for decades. This long-term illness became more severe during his role as supreme allied commander during World War II and as he became older. Physicians were never able to diagnose his illness satisfactorily. In addition, Eisenhower’s intensity made him prone to outbursts of temper, and he suffered from high blood pressure. His medical difficulties were one reason why he decided to retire from the military and become president of Columbia University in October of 1948. However, his status as wartime hero and five-star general meant that he continued to be involved in military matters despite the toll it took on his health. He worked closely with the Truman administration on a military reorganization plan.
When Eisenhower was elected president in 1952, he looked the picture of health. The public’s perception of him revolved around his charismatic smile. Indeed, during the first few years of his administration, Eisenhower showed signs of being more relaxed than ever. Relieved of the pressures of military command, he seemed to enjoy a more relaxed pace of work as president. His chief of staff, Sherman Adams, was a dedicated member of the Eisenhower team, and he made it his job to lessen the burdens of the president. Eisenhower spent a considerable amount of time playing golf, and this activity led some press members to suggest that the president did not have a good work ethic. Although Eisenhower seemed to be happy in his new role, the old medical challenges continued to plague him and to worry his doctors. Eisenhower’s physicians were especially concerned about the possibility of stroke.
On September 24, 1955, Eisenhower’s personal physician was summoned to the president’s side while he was vacationing in Colorado. After administering morphine, the doctor waited until the following afternoon to transfer the president to a nearby hospital. At this time, treatments for heart disease were not advanced and the president was in danger of death or long-term damage to his heart. As a long-term smoker, Eisenhower’s medical condition had undoubtedly been harmed by his use of cigarettes. The president was incapacitated for only a week, but this would be the first of three serious illnesses during his administration.
Impact
Eisenhower won a second term in office in 1956. Plagued by significant health issues for the remainder of his second term, the White House had to deal as openly as possible with the public about the nature of the president’s health. During the second half of 1957 he suffered first from an ileitis attack, which necessitated intestinal surgery (June), and then a slight stroke (November). The White House once again had to respond to press questions about how these episodes had affected the president.
Moreover, Eisenhower’s heart attack affected the vice presidency when Richard M. Nixon had to act as president while Eisenhower was incapacitated. Since Eisenhower’s poor health was a constant threat, he worked with Nixon to create the office of acting president in the event he again became incapacitated from illness. The formal agreement authorized the vice president to govern when the president could not discharge the powers and duties of his office.
In the long term, Eisenhower’s heart attack caused a gradual opening of private medical records of presidential candidates for public scrutiny. Prior to this event, the press viewed presidential health as a private matter not to be discussed in public settings.
Bibliography
Ambrose, Stephen E. Eisenhower. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1984. Comprehensive biography.
Lasby, Clarence G. Eisenhower’s Heart Attack: How Ike Beat Heart Disease and Held on to the Presidency. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1997. Detailed examination of the crisis precipitated by Eisenhower’s heart attack.
Pach, Chester J., and Elmo Richardson. The Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1991. Objective account of the Eisenhower administration that includes an account of Eisenhower’s heart attack.