Interstate Highway System

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  2. Interstate Highway System

Persons traveling through the United States today may find it difficult to imagine our country without the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System. It was not until June 29, 1956, when President Eisenhower signed the Federal Aid Highway Act, that interstate highways began to meet the challenge of the growing number of automobiles on the nation’s highways. While in Europe during World War II General Eisenhower viewed the ease of travel on the German autobahns. That, coupled with the experiences of a young Lt. Col. Eisenhower in the 1919 Transcontinental Convoy, convinced the President of the overwhelming need for safer and speedier highways. The President also felt that the newer, multi-lane highways were essential to a strong national defense.

Message to the Congress regarding highways, February 22, 1955 [White House Office, Office of the Press Secretary to the President, Box 4, Press Releases Feb. 8-March 14, 1955; NAID #16857605]

Letter from Roger Jones to President Eisenhower concerning the Federal-Aid highway construction program, June 28, 1956 [White House Office: Record Officer Reports to President on Pending Legislation, Box 77, Appr. 6/29/1956 to amend and supplement Federal Aid Road Act . . .; NAID #16857618]

Letter from Sinclair Weeks to President Eisenhower regarding improvement of the Interstate Highway System, August 9, 1956 [DDE’s Records as President, Official File, Box 611, OF 141-B Highways and Thoroughfares (12); NAID #16857670]

Letter from Robert Merriam to President Eisenhower regarding the highway act, April 10, 1958 [White House Office: Record Officer Reports to President on Pending Legislation, Box 115, Appr. 4/16/1958 to amend and supplement Federal Aid Road Act . . .; NAID #16857626]

Statement regarding the 1958 Federal Aid Highway Act, April 16, 1958 [DDE’s Records as President, Official File, Box 612, OF 141-B Highways and Thoroughfares (19); NAID #16857674]

Memorandum, Phillip Hughes to President Eisenhower regarding the highway act, September 17, 1959 [White House Office: Record Officer Reports to President on Pending Legislation, Box 159, Appr. 9/21/1959 to amend the Federal Aid Highway Acts of 1956 and 1958 . . .; NAID #16857636]

Statement regarding the 1959 highway act, September 21, 1959 [Kevin McCann Collection of Press and Radio Conferences and Press Releases, Box 23, September 1959; NAID #16857652]

Meeting of April 6, 1960 regarding the interstate highway program, April 8, 1960 [DDE’s Papers as President, DDE Diary Series, Box 49, Staff Notes - April 1960 (2); NAID #16857659]

Additional Information:

Interstate Highway System Subject Guide

Bibliography

Photographs:

February 17, 1954 - White House Conference on Traffic Safety. [72-703-1]
February 17, 1954 - White House Conference on Traffic Safety [72-703-3]
February 17, 1954 - White House Conference on Traffic Safety [72-703-4]
February 17, 1954 - White House Conference on Traffic Safety [72-703-6]
May 6, 1954 - Dwight D. Eisenhower signs H.R. 8127, An Act to amend and supplement the Federal-Aid Road Act approved July 11, 1916. [72-849-3]
August 10, 1954 - Governors with Dwight D. Eisenhower [72-1004-1]
August 10, 1954 - Members of the Special Committee on Highway Problems of the Governors' Conference, and others had a luncheon with Dwight D. Eisenhower. Front Row: Wetherby of Kentucky; Pyle of Arizona; Kennon of Louisiana; Kohler of Wisconsin; Patterson of Oregon; and Lausche of Ohio. [72-1004-2]
November 3, 1959 - Dwight D. Eisenhower participates in the ribbon cutting ceremony opening the new extension to the George Washington Memorial Parkway. [72-3261-3]
November 3, 1959 - Dwight D. Eisenhower participates in the ribbon cutting ceremony opening the new extension to the George Washington Memorial Parkway. [72-3261-4]
October 1954 - Committee meeting of the President's Advisory Committee on National Highway System (Clay Committee)
January 11, 1955 - Dwight D. Eisenhower receives member of the President's Advisory Committee on a National Highway Program. The group discussed federal and state highway programs.