HISTORICAL LEADER SUMMARY ESSAY – DWIGHT D. EISENHOWERIf you analyze historical battles and look at everything that was done to gain an advantage, it is unlikely that a conservative and effective strategy. There are many cases where success has meant an excessive sacrifice of resources or, even worse, of human lives. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was not wasteful in his planning and embodied the characteristics of a visionary leader. In this essay I will provide a brief history of General Eisenhower's life. I will also demonstrate transformational leadership qualities and connect them to his personal growth and effectiveness, noting his progression from rather modest beginnings and his storybook evolution as a leader. Additionally, I will highlight how progressive thinking in a diverse environment led to his continued mission success as a military officer, even when superiors did not necessarily agree with his position on various issues. Dwight D. Eisenhower's charisma and intelligence undeniably led to his election as President of the United States. His success as a military leader during World War II was essential to his popularity in America. Rather than focus on what he did as president, I will highlight the accomplishments that got him there, tracing key aspects of his life and military career. Dwight D. Eisenhower was born on October 14, 1890 in Denison, Texas. Shortly thereafter he spent much of his youth in Abilene, Kansas. Eisenhower always had a passion for military history and in 1911 he was accepted into the West Point Military Academy. This was the beginning of his military career, and nothing about it indicated that it would ever be anything more than mediocre. He received a…half of the card…success and widespread popularity eventually paved the way for him to become the 34th President of the United States. While the information I have provided is incredibly valuable, the history books are full of material that confirms that Dwight D. Eisenhower was a visionary leader. It has consistently risen to the challenge and demonstrated its ability to prepare fighting forces and achieve mission objectives. Eisenhower was also an innovator who found smarter and more effective ways to do business. This is a key quality that today's best visionary leaders exude and possess, as it takes considerable skill to analyze the past and present effectively enough to successfully predict how we should do things in the future. (Source B) His ability to be a leader has been consistently validated, from his promotion to general to his election as president.