Hugh Strickland:  

"I Like Ike" Dwight D. Eisenhower, a native of Denison, TX, was President of the United States from 1953 through 1960. I remember that his campaign slogan was “I Like Ike.” President Eisenhower was so popular that he could have run for office as either a Democrat or a Republican. His popularity derived from his service as the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe in World War II. His two terms in office coincided with my passage from a freckle-faced eight-year old to my junior year in high school. The Salk polio vaccine arrived sometime during that period, but after we faced the risk of polio by playing baseball during the hottest part of the day. The anxious mothers thought the heat could lead to polio. To beat the heat, we went to the Plaza Theater in Carrollton on Saturday afternoon for a double feature with a cartoon in between. The theater was cooled with refrigerated air conditioning and the disdain of Mrs. Lowry, the owner, who stalked the aisles to punish smirking, kissing, hand holding, and other minor infractions. Another treat at the Plaza was the chance to gaze at the beautiful older girl who sold the tickets. Even if I stood on my tiptoes and tried my best Barry White imitation, I knew she knew that I was way too young for her. Addison Road was across the path to our baseball field, which we ...Expand for more