US first lady (195361), born in Boone, Iowa, USA. The daughter of a wealthy Denver meatpacker, she met Dwight Eisenhower when he was a young officer at Fort Sam Houston, and they married in 1916. Uninterested in politics, she became known as the national model for femininity. She used pink colours in redecorating the White House, and sometimes conducted white-glove inspections.
Mamie Geneva Doud Eisenhower (November 14, 1896 – November 1, 1979), was the wife of General and President Dwight D.
Early life
Born in Boone, Iowa, Mamie Doud moved with her family to Colorado when she was seven. Her father, John Sheldon Doud, had retired at the age of 36 after making a fortune in the meatpacking industry. After briefly living in Pueblo then Colorado Springs, the Douds settled in Denver. Mamie and her three sisters grew up in a large house with several servants.
Marriage and family
During winters the family made long visits to relatives in the milder climate of San Antonio, Texas. There, in 1915, at Fort Sam Houston, Mamie met Dwight D.
For years Mamie Eisenhower's life followed the pattern of other Army wives: a succession of posts in the United States, in the Panama Canal Zone;
The first son Doud Dwight or "Icky," who was born in 1917, died of scarlet fever in 1921.
During World War II, while promotion and fame came to "Ike," his wife lived in Washington, DC.
First Lady of the United States
They celebrated with a housewarming picnic for the staff from their last temporary quarters: the White House.
Mamie was known as a penny pincher who clipped coupons for the White House staff. Her recipe for "Mamie's Million Dollar Fudge" was reproduced by housewives all over the country after it was
printed in many publications.
Because of her connection with the city of Denver, Colorado, there is a park in southeast Denver that bears her name.
Mamie's Million Dollar Fudge Recipe
4-1/2 cups sugar 2 tablespoons butter 1 pinch of salt 1 tall can evaporated milk 12 ounces semisweet chocolate bits 12 ounces German sweet chocolate 1 pint marshmallow cream 2 cups chopped nutmeatsHeat the sugar, butter, salt, and evaporated milk over low heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
Mamie was not known for her culinary prowess, however, she did earn fame for her fudge, which Ike named and often enjoyed.
Later life
In 1961 the Eisenhowers returned to Gettysburg for eight years of contented retirement together. After her husband's death in 1969, Mamie continued to live on the farm. Mamie Eisenhower died on November 1, 1979 at the age of 82.
Hauntings
Various people on the White House Staff through the past several decades have claimed to see Mamie's apparition in the White House Kitchen.
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