Ike and Mamie's Favorites
Ike's favorite foods:
This information was culled from several lists prepared at different times by Eisenhower's staff in response to the inquiring public.
Entrees
• Roast Stuffed Breast of Veal
• Beef Stew
• Steak (rare)
• Quail Hash
• Trout
Soups
• Ike's Vegetable Soup
• Chicken Noodle Soup
Desserts
• Prune Whip
• English Rice Pudding
• Floating Island
• Frosted Mint Delight
• Mamie's Deep Dish Apple Pie
• Mamie's Million Dollar Fudge
• Mamie's Sugar Cookies
Vegetables
• Fluffy Turnips
• President's Corn Pudding
• String Beans Almondine
Ike's Favorite Music:
The following list was prepared by White House personnel January 23, 1954:
America the Beautiful
Annie Laurie
Army Blue
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Deep River
Dixie
Drigo's Serenade
From Greenland's Icy Mountains
Goin' Home
God Bless America
I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen
In the Evening by the Moonlight
In the Gloaming
It's the Army
Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair
Juanita
Kiss Me Again
Last Round-up
Listen to the Mocking Bird
The Lord's Prayer
Merry Widow Waltz
My Maryland
My Old Kentucky Home
My Blue Heaven
O Susannah
Over There
Old Man River
Rosary
Roses of Picardy
Swanee River
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Tenting Tonight
Tramp, Tramp, Tramp...The Boys are Marching
There's Something About a Soldier
Wagon Wheels
Additional listings compiled by Library staff:
Favorite Popular Melodies:
Banks of the Wabash
I Believe
I Pass by Your Window
O, What a Beautiful Morning
Down Among the Sheltering Palms
Jingle, Jingle, Jingle
Greensleeves
To a Wild Rose
Serenade in the Night
In the Still of the Night
Stardust
Moonlight and Roses
Sleepy Lagoon
Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes
One Alone
Time on My Hands
Sacred Music:
O God Our Help in Ages Past
Lead Kindly Light
Abide With Me
God of Our Fathers
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
God Moves in a Mysterious Way
God of Our Life
I Love to Tell the Story
Christmas Music:
Silent Night
Adeste Fidelis
The First Noel
Semi-Classical:
The Palms
Serenade by Drigo
Clair de Lune
Festival
Dream of Olwen
Song of Love
Flirtation Waltz
Amoureuse
Barcarole
Indian Summer
Caucasian Love Song (a melody from Countess Maritza)
Songs My Mother Taught Me (a melody from The Gypsy Baron)
The Old Refrain
The Student Prince Medley
Deep in My Heart
The entra acte and intermezzo from the Chocolate Soldier
Funeral March of a Marionette
Beethoven's Minuet Number 2 in G
Nocturne by Schumann
Medley from the Merry Widow
Will You Remember?
Ike's Favorite Motto:
"Gently in Manner -- Strongly in Deed"
Latin inscription, "Sauviter in modo, fortiter in re", attributed to Claudio Aqua Viva [The "paperweight" Ike kept on his desk at the White House and later at the Gettysburg office, and now in the Eisenhower Museum displayed this inscription]
Favorite Colors:
Mamie Eisenhower [These were favorites in not only attire, but in decorating as well.]: Pink, Yellow, Green
Dwight: None
Favorite Flowers:
Dwight D. Eisenhower: Carnations ["Mrs. Eisenhower's favorite flowers are the Violet, the Gardenia, the Azalea, and the Gladiola. I am likewise fond of these particular flowers but my own favorite is the Rose and of all varieties the yellow Rose ranks first in my estimation." ...letter signed Dwight D. Eisenhower dated August 24, 1967]
Mamie Eisenhower: Pink Sweetheart Roses
Ike's Favorite Books:
The Bible
Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
The works of Shakespeare
For relaxation Ike read western novels
Favorite Bible Passage:
Dwight D. Eisenhower: Although he expressed no real "favorite", the Bible was open to the following passages during his inaugurations:
1953 Inauguration: Psalm 127, Verse 1 & Second Chronicles Chapter 7, verse 14
1957 Inauguration: Psalm 33, Verse 12
Mamie Eisenhower: 91st Psalm
Ike's Favorite Sports:
Dwight D. Eisenhower was an accomplished athlete who always enjoyed the exercise, fresh air, relaxation, good companionship, and competition which various sports provided. His highly visible participation in sports as president, coupled with the national trend toward increased leisure time in the 1950s, helped to increase the popularity of certain sports such as golf and fishing and to accentuate a growing awareness of the need for regular exercise to maintain good health.
Baseball
Football
Golf
Fishing
Hunting
Horseback Riding
For photographs please see the Audiovisual section on Sports and Hobbies
Favorite Hobbies:
Dwight D. Eisenhower:
Painting
Bridge
Cooking
Photography
Mamie Eisenhower: Bridge
For photographs please see the Audiovisual section on Sports and Hobbies
