Allen Shivers joined Dwight Eisenhower on Oct. 14, 1952, for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Alamo. This unprecedented show of support by the Democratic governor for the Republican presidential nominee crushed any hope Adlai Stevenson had of carrying the Lone Star State.
As early as 1943, in the middle of World War II, both the Democratic and Republican parties approached Gen. Eisenhower about running for the White House. He spurned the suggestion saying that a simple soldier should be left alone to do his duty.
Five years later, party bigwigs were at it again, this time attempting to draft the war hero for the nomination. Once more the overtures met with a cool reception from Ike, who insisted there was no place in politics for professional soldiers.
