Jack M. Holl has served as a professor of history at Williams College, the University of Washington, and Kansas State University. A public historian at the US Atomic Energy Commission and the Department of Energy, he played a leading role in the founding of the Society for History in the Federal Government and launching the National Council of Public History. He has also served at the Eisenhower Foundation and continues to evaluate Eisenhower Foundation research grants at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
"""Jack Holl has effectively refuted skeptics who easily assume that Dwight Eisenhower's presidential statements on religion were politically motivated. Ike's faith reflected 'still waters running deep, ' informing all his actions and policies. Although not sectarian, Eisenhower believed that America's civil religion, a legacy of the founding fathers, was essential to the preservation of American democracy. In Holl's words, Eisenhower saw himself as 'a civil pastor to all Americans who believed in God, ' and--critically for scholars of his racial policies--Ike envisioned 'a spiritual America unconstrained by color or creed.'"" -- David A. Nichols author of A Matter of Justice: Eisenhower and the Beginning of the Civil Rights Revolution ""It was no coincidence that Dwight D. Eisenhower oversaw a crusade in Europe against Nazism during World War II and a subsequent crusade against godless communism during the Cold War. The call of duty and allegiance to the Constitution forged during his military career confirmed his faith in God. His moral compass did not waver, shaping his actions as soldier, educator, and politician. Jack Holl's new biography brilliantly fashions a thoughtful and sharp-eyed interpretation of Ike's military and civilian contributions through the lens of his religious beliefs. The bold examination of Eisenhower's religious journey and its legacy for American culture and politics offers a fresh perspective on religion, Eisenhower, and the United States in the twentieth century. Holl's book is an incisive and important read."" -- Philip L. Cantelon cofounder and CEO of History Associates Incorporated ""In this engaging reinterpretation of a great American's private experience and public career, Holl draws on a lifetime of learning to explore the centrality of Eisenhower's religious journey to his rhetoric and policies as a Cold War president. As a result, Ike's 'middle way' in politics resurfaces in a compelling new dimension. This is an indispensable addition to the Eisenhower literature."" -- Michael J. Birkner professor of history at Gettysburg College ""This outstanding contribution to the Eisenhower bibliography provides a new approach to understanding Ike's life and career that most historians have overlooked. Combining his history credentials with theology, the author establishes the nondenominational 'civil religion' that served Ike so well, providing us with a new understanding of Ike as a leader and as a man."" -- Daniel D. Holt former director of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum ""Taking the religious life of Dwight Eisenhower seriously, Jack Holl has masterfully uncovered not only a more dynamic personal faith than civil religion implies but a humbler one. The mark, Holl asserts, of Eisenhower's religious journey, from Abilene to North Africa to Washington, was considered moderation. A mark, too, of this fine biography--a detailed, impressive account."" -- Ansley L. Quiros associate professor of history at the University of North Alabama ""Much like the revisionist analysis of Eisenhower's 'hidden-hand' leadership, The Religious Journey of Dwight D. Eisenhower reveals a largely unknown but important side to understanding the nation's thirty-fourth president. Professor Holl's well-documented research makes a convincing case that religion had a profound impact on Eisenhower's life, worldview, and executive decision-making. Highly recommended for scholars, students, and interested observers of the American presidency and of the intersection of religion and politics."" -- Mark J. Rozell founding dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University"