Susan Eisenhower

Susan Eisenhower is an American author, consultant, and public policy analyst specializing in international relations, national security, and energy policy. The granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, she has built a distinguished career at the intersection of business strategy and geopolitical risk. She is the founder and chairman of the Eisenhower Group, Inc., a consulting firm, and is known for her advocacy on issues related to U.S.-Russia relations and nuclear security.

Early life and education

Born in Denver, Colorado, she is the daughter of John Eisenhower, a historian and former United States Ambassador to Belgium, and Barbara Thompson Eisenhower. She grew up in Washington, D.C., and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, with her brother, author David Eisenhower. She attended the National Cathedral School before earning a Bachelor of Arts in liberal arts from the Pennsylvania State University. She later received a Master of Arts in American studies from the George Washington University, where her studies focused on the intersection of history and public policy.

Career

Her professional career began in the 1970s working for the Republican Party at the Republican National Committee. She later shifted focus to the corporate sector, holding positions in marketing and communications for firms in New York City and Washington, D.C.. In 1986, she founded the Eisenhower Group, Inc., a consulting firm providing strategic advice to corporate clients on geopolitical risk, market entry, and international trade, with a particular focus on the former Soviet Union. She has served on numerous corporate boards, including those for public companies in the energy sector, and has been a fellow at prestigious institutions such as the Harvard Kennedy School and the Eisenhower Institute.

Public policy and advocacy

A prominent voice on foreign policy, she has been deeply involved in initiatives concerning arms control, nuclear non-proliferation, and U.S.-Russia relations. She served as a director of the Nuclear Threat Initiative co-chaired by Sam Nunn and Ted Turner, and has been a member of key advisory committees for the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of State. She played a significant role in the bipartisan Ike Skelton Commission on national security and has testified before the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Her advocacy extends to energy security, where she has written and lectured extensively on the need for a comprehensive national strategy, contributing to debates at forums like the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Personal life

In 1990, she married renowned Soviet physicist Roald Sagdeev, former director of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and an advisor to Mikhail Gorbachev. Their marriage, celebrated at the Soviet Embassy in Washington, D.C., was seen as a symbolic union during the final years of the Cold War. The couple resided in Washington, D.C., and Moscow until Sagdeev's death in 2016. She has three daughters from a previous marriage.

Legacy and honors

Her legacy is defined by her role as a bridge-builder between the United States and Russia and her nonpartisan commitment to pragmatic national security policy. She is the author of several books, including "Breaking Free: A Memoir of Love and Revolution" and "How Ike Led: The Principles Behind Eisenhower's Biggest Decisions." Her honors include the prestigious Woman of Distinction Award from the American Association of University Women and the George F. Kennan Award for her contributions to American understanding of Russia. She remains a sought-after commentator for media outlets like CNN, BBC, and The Washington Post.

Category:American political writers Category:American businesspeople Category:1951 births Category:Eisenhower family Category:Living people