“If I Weren’t the President…”

Presidential history has long been a hobby of mine. My fascination with our US Presidents began when I was a child. Our family purchased a set of “World Books” — which included a yearly “update” volume. One year, that volume focused on the lives of the presidents. Being an astute young girl with a desire to become an upstanding member of the community, I set about that summer to read the biographies of these men, our esteemed leaders. I began with the question in my mind, “How did these men become president?” I wanted to discover any common traits they had, to know more about the subjects they studied, to learn all that I would need to know — not necessarily to follow in their footsteps — to become a worthy, honorable, and capable leader.

By the time I’d finished reading, I was shaking my head, and asking all over again, “How did these men become president?” I’d found, you see, a lot of less than honorable actions, a bit of chicanery, and more emotional drama than I’d been prepared for. It was eye-opening, really. Instead of seeing our nation’s presidents as examples of the “highest and best” in mankind, I saw them as people — some doing their best, others not giving a damn, and some admitting they were in way over their head.

From that point on, I embraced their stories, came to feel as though I knew these men personally, cramming my head with book after book about the US presidents. It’s been a fascinating hobby.

My interest in presidential history has led me to learn a bit about their hobbies, too, and for several presidents that’s included art. One of our “painting presidents” was Dwight David Eisenhower, and I’ve had the pleasure of visiting his boyhood home and presidential library in Abilene, Kansas. Several of his paintings are on display there, such as this one — which, personally, I find quite nice:

For many reasons, Eisenhower is a president I like — and there’s a bit of history there in that statement. Back in the presidential campaign of 1956 (which I remember well) the popular slogan was “I like Ike”, and enough people did like him to re-elect him for a second term.

This was at a time when Americans still looked up to leaders. Eisenhower was not only a brilliant military strategist who had helped win the war, he was also a kindly man who became a bit of a “father figure” for millions of Americans. We worried over his health when he suffered a heart attack in his first term, but he went on to complete a second term in office, a sign that adversity could be overcome. Like Ike, we believed we could be victorious over anything that beset our nation.

Enough history, though. This is still an art blog, and I have more of his work to share. First, though, just as an aside, I’ll mention that Ike also liked cooking. He spent many pleasant hours in the kitchen, a fact that endears him to me since cooking Is another of my hobbies. I have a collection of his recipes, including one for a delicious oyster casserole. You can find more here: Ike and Mamie’s Favorites.

Now, to the art! Eisenhower was not a great artist, although he became a good one, I think. As I read his thoughts about art and painting, I feel a true kinship with this man. He acknowledged that he lacked artistic ability, but went on to learn and do what he could.

His interest in art — or maybe we should think of it more as curiosity — began in 1948 when artist Thomas Stephens painted a portrait of first lady, Mamie Eisenhower:

 

When Ike expressed interest in the process, Stephens sent him a complete “painting kit”.  Now, do you remember how I felt the first time I bought a sketchbook? I felt so out-of-place in the “art aisle” of the store and knew buying a sketchbook would prove to be a waste of money. Well, Eisenhower had similar feelings about the paints he’d been given. He called it “a sheer waste of money”, but it’s been suggested that perhaps his desire to not be wasteful is what led him to try painting. He practiced diligently, yet never took his work too seriously.

He was encouraged by fellow politician-turned-artist Winston Churchill, as well as by doctors who felt painting would be a relaxing way for Ike to deal with stress. Indeed, painting became a life-long hobby, Although he painted hundreds of scenes — portraits, still lifes, landscapes — it’s said that he also destroyed a lot of his work.

One of my favorite stories about Ike as artist was when the Huntington Hartford Museum in New York featured an exhibition of his works in 1967. Reporter Richard Cohen spoke with him that day and inquired about the “symbolism” in the paintings. In true, down-to-earth fashion, Ike replied:

Let’s get something straight here, Cohen. They would have burned this (expletive deleted) a long time ago if I weren’t the President of the United States.

Gotta love an honest man, right?

Of course, who am I to judge his art? Like Ike, I have no natural “ability” and have come as far as I have only through consistent practice. Truthfully, I can see that his paintings are not masterful works of art, but then again, they’re not bad.

Here is “Snow-Capped Mountain” also painted in 1955.

And I envy his ability to paint the family home in Abilene:

Overall, Eisenhower’s art reinforces the simple truth that anyone can learn to draw and paint. It’s not all about “ability”. It’s about a willingness to do one’s best, to learn all one can, and to patiently practice day by day.

HAPPY PRESIDENT’S DAY!