by Barbara Rimkunas
This "Historically Speaking" column was published in the Exeter News-Letter on Friday, October 8, 2021
On a cool Tuesday October morning in 1962, many Exeter residents were surprised to hear the unfamiliar chop chop chop of a helicopter. Arriving that day, on short notice, was former president Dwight D. Eisenhower. Betty Kreger, who lived on Ash Street, decided to head over. “Finally decided to walk over to playing fields, P.E.A.” she wrote in her diary, “cars & people there. Soon saw the helicopter coming in.”
Eisenhower was on a four-day campaign swing supporting GOP candidates in New England. He’d made headlines the previous day for taking umbrage at President Kennedy’s criticism of the Eisenhower foreign policy. “Personally,” he said to the $100-a-plate audience in Boston, “I have been careful in all my speeches to keep current foreign policy out of partisan debate. But when a charge is made for purely political purposes – a charge that indeed should be stated in reverse – I must seriously question the advisability of continued silence.” Kennedy had said that the Eisenhower foreign policy had merely “drifted aimlessly about.” It was no secret that Eisenhower believed Kennedy was too inexperienced to serve as President, but it was quite unusual that he would comment on administration policy given that he harbored deep respect for the office. On Tuesday, he was set to speak in Manchester, New Hampshire at another GOP event. Perhaps the 72-year-old former president would make further scathing comments about his predecessor at the next event.
The Portsmouth Herald got wind of Eisenhower’s planned Exeter visit on Monday and had time to get an article published mentioning a previous presidential visitor. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln made a stop in town to visit his son, Robert, who was then attending Phillips Exeter Academy. Eisenhower had a similar reason for visiting – his grandson, Dwight David Eisenhower II, known as ‘David,’ had recently entered Phillips Academy as a freshman. The former president had hoped David would attend a military academy, but his affection for his only grandson (he’d renamed ‘Shangri La,’ the presidential retreat, ‘Camp David’ in 1953), had made David’s decision forgivable. The school’s principal, William Saltonstall, was an acquaintance and the welcome would be warm. Travel by helicopter would make a quick stop efficient. And one can only imagine the view the former president would have travelling above the tree line through New Hampshire in prime leaf peeping season.
“A scheduled visit to a Republican Party rally in Manchester provided Exeter with an unscheduled visit by one of the nations most illustrious citizens Tuesday morning,” reported the Exeter News-Letter in the days that followed. “General Ike, fresh from celebrating his 72nd birthday Sunday and a GOP rally in Boston Monday night, left the Hub by helicopter at 9:18am and landed on the Academy soccer field at 9:44. He was met by Principal and Mrs. Saltonstall who drove him to their Pine St. home. There they renewed an acquaintance of 10 years and the general and his grandson had a family chat.” David, a freshman of just 14 years-old, appears in photos to look as though he was interrupted on his way to class – his hands full of textbooks – for the meeting.
Betty Kreger, formerly Betty Tufts before her marriage, rushed from the playing field to Pine Street to get a better glimpse of the president. “I stood on the edge of Bill Saltonstall’s driveway as the cars came in past us. Practically c’d have bended forward to touch him. Gave us all a fine smile.” She seemed quite excited about the experience, even if it did require her to stand on the Saltonstall’s driveway, which led to the house he’d built after tearing down her childhood home. She was the daughter of long-time PEA professor, James A. Tufts.
After a visit of an hour, Eisenhower signed some autographs for a few lucky students, boarded the helicopter and continued to his event in Manchester. The following day, he returned to his home in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, probably quite satisfied that he’d put the criticism of the new, young upstart president in its place. But throughout his political trip, events in the world had reached a critical point. Ballistic missile launch facilities had been identified in Cuba. Kennedy convened the Executive Committee of the National Security Council to discuss the situation. He also called the former president. As the crisis escalated during the next week, Kennedy and Eisenhower kept in touch as advisors pressured military action. Eisenhower told Kennedy that he didn’t think the Soviets would want to launch a nuclear war. Kennedy called their bluff while quietly negotiating an agreement to remove US missiles from Turkey. Later Eisenhower would say that Kennedy had handled the situation well. It had been a frightening week for most of the world – the closest we ever came to a large-scale nuclear war.
Looking at the pictures of Eisenhower in Exeter on that bright Fall morning is like looking at the last time Americans felt safe. Kennedy would encourage families to build fallout shelters. Young David Eisenhower graduated in 1966, attended Amherst College and went on to become an author and public policy fellow and professor at the University of Pennsylvania. His grandfather became enamored with the area, visiting several more times during David’s years at Exeter, famously staying at Lamie’s Tavern in Hampton on the sad Thanksgiving that followed the assassination of his successor, President Kennedy.
Barbara Rimkunas is curator of the Exeter Historical Society. Support the Exeter Historical Society by becoming a member! Join online at: www.exeterhistory.org
Image: Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower waves prior to his departure from the Phillips Exeter Academy soccer field on October 16, 1962 (Benj. Swiezynski photo)