Edward E. "Swede" Hazlett (February 22, 1892 – November 2, 1958) and

Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; ; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was an American military officer and statesman who served as the 34th president of the United States from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, ...

were natives of

Abilene, Kansas Abilene (pronounced ) is a city in, and the county seat of, Dickinson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 6,460. It is home of The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum and the G ...

who sparked a friendship that would last from their meeting in high school until Hazlett’s death from cancer in 1958. From the beginning of their freshman year in

Abilene High School (Abilene, Kansas) Abilene High School is a public secondary school in Abilene, Kansas, United States, serving grades 9–12. The school is operated by Abilene USD 435 school district. The current building serves students from the city itself as well as outlying ...

, Eisenhower felt protective of Hazlett and quickly bestowed the nickname "Swede" on him. According to Eisenhower, "He azlettwas a big fellow...but he was raised in a quiet atmosphere and occasionally a few people smaller than he would try to bulldoze him...I felt protective, a sort of obligation to him, and I took it upon myself to tell a few of the so-and-so's to lay off."Robert W. Griffith. ''Ike's Letters to a Friend''. 1984. University Press of Kansas. In his book ''At Ease: Stories I Tell to Friends'', Eisenhower writes that Hazlett persuaded him to apply for an appointment to the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...

. According to Eisenhower, "It was not difficult to persuade me that this was a good move...I realized that my own college education would not be achieved without considerable delay while I tried to accumulate money. With Ed Edgar_N._Eisenhower_.html" ;"title="Edgar_N._Eisenhower.html" ;"title="Edgar N. Eisenhower">Edgar N. Eisenhower ">Edgar_N._Eisenhower.html" ;"title="Edgar N. Eisenhower">Edgar N. Eisenhower already in college and receiving some help from Father and with Earl [ Earl D. Eisenhower ] and Milton [ Milton Stover Eisenhower ] coming on in the future, I could see that if I could made it [sic], I would take a burden off my family." Both Hazlett and Eisenhower passed the entrance examination but Eisenhower was barred from entrance because he exceeded the maximum allowable entrance age. With that, Hazlett attended the Naval Academy and Eisenhower accepted an appointment to the

United States Military Academy The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...

West Point, New York West Point is the oldest continuously occupied military post in the United States. Located on the Hudson River in New York, West Point was identified by General George Washington as the most important strategic position in America during the Ame ...

. While Eisenhower's career blossomed with preparations to enter the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, ill health (which would plague him the rest of his life) brought on by a heart attack ended Hazlett’s active military career in 1939. He would later return to duty during the Second World War first as an instructor at the Naval Academy and then as the commander of the naval training program at the

University of North Carolina The University of North Carolina is the multi-campus public university system for the state of North Carolina. Overseeing the state's 16 public universities and the NC School of Science and Mathematics, it is commonly referred to as the UNC Sy ...

before finally retiring in 1946. During his presidency, Eisenhower would frequently write personal and revealing letters to Hazlett even during his most busy periods.Michael Korda. ''Ike: An American Hero''. 2007. Harper Perennial. pg. 85. Usually never one to openly share his feelings, Eisenhower would pour his thoughts and concerns into these letters. The letters addressed his thoughts on topics as diverse as, "

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...

, the

Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...

civil rights Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from infringement by governments, social organizations, and private individuals. They ensure one's entitlement to participate in the civil and political life of ...

, defense spending, ndthe problem of who would succeed him as president." Thus, Eisenhower's letters to Hazlett serve as a window into his thoughts on his own presidency.

References

External links

Papers of Edward E. "Swede" Hazlett

Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home is the Presidential library system, presidential library and museum of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Dwight David Eisenhower, the List of presidents of the United States, 34th presi ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hazlett, Edward E. 1892 births 1958 deaths Dwight D. Eisenhower People from Abilene, Kansas