Roberts: A day with Ike Eisenhower starts early and ends late
Supreme Commander reads reports, dictates orders and holds many conferences
By Edward V. Roberts, representing combined U.S. press
Allied advanced command post, France (UP) –
There’s no such thing as a “typical” day in the life of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied forces. He is apt to be in any one of a dozen different places – talking to G.I. Joe one day, Prime Minister Winston Churchill the next.
He probably spends as much time as this post as anywhere. Let’s follow Gen. Eisenhower through a day spent here recently – July 10, to be exact.
The previous night, the general remained in his office until just before midnight, reading a steady stream of reports concerning the Allied progress toward Caen. Finally, when word of the capture of the city came, he nodded his satisfaction and went to bed.
Regular American breakfast
At 8:00 a.m. July 10, he was back at his desk reading an important message from Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery. Then he went to his personal caravan for a regular American breakfast of orange juice, bacon, eggs, toast, and coffee.
Dictating for an hour and a half following breakfast, he sent a reply to Gen. Montgomery and various memoranda to Allied officers. Then he sent for his personal aide to obtain information on the Normandy action.
Four reporters stationed here as representatives of the combined British and American press were received by Gen. Eisenhower at 11:00 a.m. He saw us approaching, came out hatless to meet us and led us into the tent that serves as his office here. He told us to grab chairs and the session was on.
Sweats fluently, frequently
The general talked with us for an hour and a half, leisurely and quietly discussing the war situation, the outlook for the future and flying bombs. He talks easily in a conversational vein, smoking most of the time and hitching himself about comfortably in his chair. His language is a mixture of Kansas and the Army. He says “ennaway” for anyway and his “B’Gods” and “damns” are frequent, fluent and casual.
He asked us how we were getting along and if we had enough to do. he listened with apparent interest to a long recitation of our problems and offered some suggestions, volunteering to help out with the tough ones. As is his custom, he emphasized the importance of our “covering” his commanders, both British and American.
Gen. Eisenhower’s chief of staff, Lt. Gen. W. B. Smith, arrived at 1:00 p.m., with the Earl of Halifax, British Ambassador in Washington, who was a luncheon guest. It was the first time Lord Halifax and Gen. Eisenhower had met since before the invasion of North Africa and they had much to talk about.
Reads courts-martial
After luncheon, the Supreme Commander held a telephone conference with Air Chf. Mshl. Trafford Leigh-Mallory, Allied air commander.
Next the general read the briefs on several courts-martial cases, referred to him for final action, and made an appointment for his weekly conference with the Judge Advocate General. On these cases, Gen. Eisenhower functions as a court of last resort, his powers being similar to those of executive clemency vested in a state governor or the President.
During the afternoon, more dispatches and some personal mail arrived for his attention. There was a letter from his brother, Milton Eisenhower (president of Kansas State College), and a note from the Earl of Halifax – mailed days ago but missent – thanking him for the aid American soldiers have rendered London victims of the flying bombs.
Stewed chicken for supper
Another long dictation session began at 5:00 p.m. That finished, the general jumped into his long tan Cadillac and drove to naval headquarters for a talk with Adm. Sir Bertram Ramsay, Allied naval commander.
Returning, he went into a huddle with Lt. Gen. Smith and other high general whose name cannot yet be released. Sometime after 8:00 p.m., he went to his mess for a supper of stewed chicken, fried corn and French-fried potatoes. Sgt. Leroy Ross of Morgan City, Louisiana, who served him, said Gen. Eisenhower is pretty good-natured and “joshed” him a little.
A few late dispatches occupied the general after supper. Then he went to bed with the observation that he was tired.