Who he was
A West Point graduate who never saw combat in the First World War, Eisenhower rose quickly in the Second through his talent for planning and diplomacy. He commanded the Allied landings in North Africa, Sicily and Italy.
The decisions that defined him
As Supreme Commander he had to balance the strategies and egos of American, British and other Allied leaders. His most famous decision was launching D-Day on 6 June 1944 on an uncertain forecast. He had prepared a note accepting full blame if the landings failed.
Afterward
He became Army Chief of Staff, NATO's first Supreme Commander and, in 1953, President of the United States.