Dwight "Ike" Eisenhower was one of the most courageous and valiant men to walk the planet. A man of many faces, he was a general, a college dean, and ultimately, the President of the United States. Many remember Eisenhower as a spirited, defiant member of the military, who wouldn't withdraw without victory over the opponent. His fire and courage became symbolic of the decade, as people grew more patriotic for America, and wanted to be a part of the greatest democracy on the planet. Eisenhower embodies the spirit of the decade, not only for his amazing success, but also because of how he and the decade were similar in their unending optimism and patriotic spirit.
For a person to be valiant, it requires not only a great sense of courage, but also a certain nobility, putting what's right for mankind over what's good for you. Ike is a perfect example of this, for he would always try to make his decisions work on an international scale as well as a national one, rather than just on a single front. That was the advice he received from his good friend, General Fox Conner about having to think on an international scale during the upcoming wars during their time stationed at Panama together. Forever would Ike hold these words at heart, for he always acted upon a world interest, rather than a personal one. The spirit of the decade was also valiant, with victory gardens supplying food, and scrap drives to get materials that were in short supply, helping society, not just a single person.
Bravery, a trait mostly recognized in battle, where being able to do acts required of you can make all the difference was another of Ike's great traits. He was a great example of bravery, leading his troops from the battle, rather than sitting idly at a secure Head Quarters, and pushing onward through Europe evenly, though it risked an attack en masse from the Nazi forces. Whenever there was a risky gamble to be made, he made sure he picked the best option, and then let the dice fly. This quality not only earned him respect by his fellow generals, but also gave him good public popularity. People of the 1940's were brave, risking their lives to continue the war, even though it put them in more and more danger
"A good leader is one who works just as hard as his troops, a great one works even harder". This quote is practically tailored to Ike's lifestyle, where he worked 12-16 hrs a day, progressing up through he ranks of the Army until he achieved his rank. Even though he had to do boring deskwork that he detested, he worked diligently, and kept a good show of faith, and was rewarded by being promoted. Even once he had been selected as commander of the forces, he still kept up his work ethic, sometimes going long into the night trying to find a better strategy than the one already in place. It was this determination, along with his courage that made him a general the enemy feared. Hard work was the name of the game in the 40's, where people who didn't work normally had to come in to take the place of those who had left to fight.
The traits that describe Ike the best are the same that describe the decade, where brave soldiers went off to battle, while their valiant wives and family watched on, supporting them in any way possible. The mode of the times was to work hard, as production had to meet even higher marks as so much was being used for the military. Women were a great help to this, partly because they were very hardworking, and second because they wanted to prove that they were just as good as any other man they could choose to fill the position. That was the spirit of the times, best shown in the work and achievements of General Dwight D. Eisenhower.