Ike and Mamie's Favorites

Ike was an accomplished athlete who always enjoyed the exercise, fresh air, relaxation, good companionship, and competition which various sports provided. As a boy, he fished, and played baseball and football. He was a noted football player at West Point until a knee injury ended his participation. As a young Army officer, he coached several football teams. As he grew older, he turned to golf and, when he could, fishing, which he combined with his passion for cooking.

Ike's highly visible participation in sports as president, coupled with the national trend toward increased leisure time in the 1950s, helped to increase the popularity of certain sports such as golf and fishing and to accentuate a growing awareness of the need for regular exercise to maintain good health.

Ike's Favorite Motto

"Gently in Manner -- Strongly in Deed"

Latin inscription, "Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re", attributed to Claudio Aqua Viva. The "paperweight" Ike kept on his desk at the White House and later at the Gettysburg office, and now in the Eisenhower Museum displayed this inscription.

Favorite Bible Passage

Ike - Although he expressed no real "favorite", the Bible was open to the following passages during his inaugurations...

• 1953 Inauguration - Psalm 127:1 and 2 Chronicles 7:14
• 1957 Inauguration - Psalm 33:12

Mamie Eisenhower - Psalm 91

Ike's Favorite Books

• The Bible
• Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
• The works of Shakespeare
• For relaxation, Ike read western novels

In a 1966 letter, Ike wrote that the two most influential books in his life, other than the Bible, were On War by Carl von Clausewitz, and The History of the United States by George Bancroft.

This cookbook consists of Eisenhower's personal collection of recipes, including some he developed himself, such as Eisenhower's Vegetable Soup and Beef Stew, and others he collected. His Vegetable Soup and Beef Stew were often requested by the public, and were printed in numerous newspapers.

NOTE: Recipes previously appearing in published sources may be subject to copyright restrictions.

Mamie's Recipes

In an oral history interview, Mamie recalled, "[A]t home, the cook would not allow us in the kitchen, so I never had any kitchen experience at all."  When she married Ike, she was soon confronted with cooking. Here are some of her favorite recipes.

Frosted Mint Delight
Mamie's Deep Dish Apple Pie
Mamie's Million Dollar Fudge
Mamie's Sugar Cookies
Fluffy Turnips