Meeting Recap for Sept. 24, 2012

And by the way, contrary to some claims, the Internet was invented by the Advanced Research Project Agency, which was created by Eisenhower in the late 1950s, not long after he created the National Aeronautics & Space Administration. None of that should come as a surprise. Eisenhower was an over-achiever, rising from the rank of Lt. Colonel to five-star general in charge of Allied efforts in the European Theater in the space of just three years—and going on to be our country’s 34th President.

In fact, for a man whose image as President was that he didn’t do all that much, he did quite a lot. In addition to ARPA and NASA, he was the architect of the interstate highway system and the St. Lawrence Seaway. He also was somewhat of a civil rights activist. He signed the first Civil Rights Act since Reconstruction, appointed desegregationist judges to the Supreme Court and sent federal troops to Little Rock, AR., to protect the first African American students to attend Central High School. And recently declassified documents indicate he worked behind the scenes to counter-act the divisive activities of Sen. Eugene McCarthy.

Eisenhower was also the first chief of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, president of Columbia University and Army Chief of Staff at various times in his career. In 1952, both the Democratic and Republic parties sought to nominate him for President and wound up serving two terms in the White House.

How did Eisenhower prevent additional world wars?
The first time, according to Sharp, was during the 1956 Suez crisis, when he persuaded Israel to back off its plans to wage war on Egypt after Egypt shut down the canal. He also resisted calls to try to push the Red Army out of Central Europe and ignored pressure to declare that if Russia crossed certain borders in Europe we would go to war. Eisenhower knew the terrible destructive power of then-new nuclear weapons and declared that the only way to win the next world war would be to prevent it.

Two other anecdotes offered by Sharp offered keen insights into Eisenhower’s character:
Shortly after hostilities in Europe ended, Eisenhower visited the Nazi concentration camp at Buchenwald along with General George Patton. Eisenhower made sure his photo was taken there “in case some time in the future someone should try to deny it happened.”

As president, Eisenhower once vetoed a bill for which he had sponsored because he had become disgusted with the dishonesty and corruption of the lobbyists who were trying to get it passed.
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Rolf Davidson of the YMCA was welcomed as the newest member of RCS. He was sponsored by Jay Lowden and Dan McVeigh.  President Peter, exercising his “presidential rights”, then inducted Kiefie Breuer as the newest Honorary member of the club. Kiefie has been attending meetings for years with husband Art Breuer.  She graciously volunteers wherever she can help, not only at weekly meetings, but at many of our events during the year.
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At the other end of the membership spectrum, 83-year-old Past President Ernie Farrington, who is working to bring the Soap Box Derby back to Sacramento, was honored for achieving Rule 120 status. Members whose age and years of Club service total 120 no longer are required to pay dues.
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Jim Craig sponsored the pre-meeting wine reception, Leesa Fons provided the Thought for the Day and after President Peter Dannenfelser led the Pledge of Allegiance, Dick Osen led the club in singing “God Bless America” as photos of the space shuttle Endeavor’s fly-over of the State Capitol flashed on the screen.