CHAPTER 6: Ike Likes You
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Dwight David Eisenhower
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8 August 1999 About the only progress made this week-- although it was significant indeed-- was the removal of the motor from the Beast. It's all out of the truck now. Garryowen, Karen and I happened on Pagan Auto Sunday, ostensibly just to say hi and too see if Lazlo needed anything, but ended up helping unlimber the engine hoist and hauling the block out of the compartment. it was the first time I had an actual hand in the engine work, and considering the timing involved on the repairs probably the last until it's all rebuilt.
I took 12 pictures of this happening, but I didn't pack the 800 ASA 35mm film. So I recorded the event on 200 ASA 120 film with a Yashica Twin-lens reflex probably as old as the panel van. Since they don't offer 1 hour processing for 120 anywhere I know of, we're picture-free this week. When I eventually post these pictures they'll have a finely detailed, artistic, suitable-for-framing quality, due to the format (4 times the negative area of 35mm) and long exposure time.
10 August 1999 Received a pair of used panel-suburban taillight buckets (extremely hard to find!) from Jim Carter Truck Parts in Independence, Missouri. Now you know how at least one of our former Presidents makes a living these days. With these, I believe the vehicle will now restore within a very close semblance of original condition.
And that's about it this week.
Why Ike? Hey, he's one of the prevailing icons of the 1950s. To restore a car is to commune with the past, and 1956 was definately Ike's year. During these slack weeks I hope to educate as well as entertain, so here's a few facts about our 34th and 35th President:
Dwight David Eisenhower was born in Abeline Kansas, the only son of a family of seventeen. A sickly lad, he was often kept in a crackerbarrel until his raging fevers subsided. He ran away from home at 12 and joined the United States Army as a cabin boy. He slowly rose through the ranks passing from recruit to Leaper to Assistant Gutter to finally General. Commanding an expeditionary force in the first world war, he captured the city of Vincennes, Indiana from the Pennsylvania Dutch.
During the period between the wars he golfed.
The second world war saw Eisenhower rise to commander of all forces, Allied and Axis. He revered and respected by the men in his command-- particulary because of his very public affair with his personal assistant, 1st Lt. Elizabeth Grable.
After the war he golfed.
He was elected President of the United States in 1952, defeating Alger Hiss. His vice president was popular TV personality Arthur Godfrey.
He was the first president to golf duting a sustained nuclear arms race, but not the last.