Missing from the Eisenhower memorial debate, in this column as in others, though, are two issues.
A. Do we want more clutter on the Mall?
B. Is Eisenhower worthy of a presidential memorial?
On A, I say no, and I say no to more National Park Service units without
more budget.
On B, although it's not specifically identified as a presidential memorial,
I say no. His famous "military-industrial complex" comment aside, post-Brown, he
was a huge foot-dragger on support for desegregation. And, worse about it yet in
private.
you're ignorant about Ike's huge civil rights impact . See Thurgood
ReplyDeleteMarshall Jr's discussion on C-Span and "A Matter of Justice" by Prof David Nichols
Well, we'll probably agree to disagree. I see a president who at places like Little Rock, deliberately delayed enforcement of Brown. A president who did little post-Brown to hire more blacks in the federal government. A president who certain had Brown as part of the reason he said naming Earl Warren as chief justice was his worst decision ever. There's plenty of other material, including Ike's golf buddies and more, to show he wasn't so enlightened. Even if Thurgood Jr. claims otherwise.
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