Eisenhower Institute

Eisenhower Institute
Name	Eisenhower Institute
Formation	1987
Type	Think tank
Headquarters	Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Leader title	President
Leader name	Dwane Morrison
Named after	Dwight D. Eisenhower

Eisenhower Institute The Eisenhower Institute is a public policy think tank and leadership development center founded to advance the legacy of Dwight D. Eisenhower by promoting pragmatic policy solutions and civic leadership. Located near the Gettysburg Battlefield and close to institutions such as Gettysburg College and the National Park Service, the Institute engages scholars, practitioners, and veterans in programs on national security, foreign policy, and civil leadership. It connects historical study of the World War II and the Cold War with contemporary debates involving the United States, NATO, and regional actors like Russia, China, and Iran.

History

The Institute was established in the late 1980s amid rising interest in presidential centers such as the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, following precedents set by the Presidential Libraries Act. Early backers included figures from the Eisenhower administration, alumni of the United States Military Academy and veterans of the European Theater of World War II, linking the project to the National Archives and Records Administration's network. Its founding intersected with anniversaries of the D-Day landings and commemorations of leaders like George C. Marshall and Omar Bradley, situating the Institute within a broader memory culture that includes sites such as the American Battlefield Monuments Commission locations and the Smithsonian Institution. Over time it broadened ties to policy communities in Washington, D.C., the Brookings Institution, and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Mission and Programs

The Institute’s mission emphasizes leadership, national security, and civic engagement, drawing on the precedent of Eisenhower’s career from the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force to the NATO Supreme Allied Commander role and the 1953–61 presidency. Core programs include leadership seminars for veterans modeled on training at the National Defense University and fellowship programs similar to those at the American Enterprise Institute and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Policy tracks address transatlantic relations with European Union partners, Indo-Pacific strategy involving Japan and Australia, energy security in dialogue with entities such as the International Energy Agency, and civil discourse initiatives referencing practices from the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps.

Research and Publications

Research centers at the Institute produce reports, white papers, and edited volumes on topics ranging from deterrence theory associated with scholars linked to the RAND Corporation to democratic resilience debates championed by academics at Stanford University, Harvard University, and the University of Chicago. Publications have addressed arms control treaties such as the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and the New START Treaty, cybersecurity themes intersecting with work at MIT and Carnegie Mellon University, and energy geopolitics involving the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and the International Monetary Fund. The Institute publishes policy briefs referencing case studies like the Suez Crisis and the Korean War and has hosted symposia on climate policy in conversation with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Leadership and Governance

Governance includes a board drawing members from the military, academic, and corporate sectors, similar in composition to boards of the Brookings Institution and the Wilson Center. Past and present leaders have included retired flag officers from the United States Navy and the United States Army, diplomats formerly posted to missions such as the United States Mission to the United Nations, and scholars affiliated with institutions like Johns Hopkins University and Georgetown University. Advisory councils have featured veterans of campaigns such as Operation Desert Storm and policymakers who once worked with secretaries like George Marshall and cabinet officers from the Eisenhower administration era.

Partnerships and Initiatives

The Institute partners with universities including Penn State University, The Ohio State University, and Columbia University, as well as policy NGOs like Freedom House and The Heritage Foundation on targeted projects. Collaborative initiatives have convened experts from the Atlantic Council, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the German Marshall Fund to explore transatlantic security, and have engaged civil society organizations such as Common Cause and the League of Women Voters on civic participation campaigns. International partners range from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to research centers at Peking University and The Australian National University.

Funding and Financials

Funding sources typically include philanthropic foundations such as the Ford Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the Luce Foundation, alongside gifts from individuals, endowments, and program grants from agencies like the National Endowment for the Humanities and contracts with the Department of Defense or the Department of State. Financial oversight follows nonprofit standards similar to those used by the Council on Foundations and is reported in formats comparable to filings by the United Way and other charitable institutions. Major funders have historically included private donors connected to the Eisenhower family and legacy supporters tied to veterans’ groups such as the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Public Outreach and Events

Public programming encompasses lecture series, conferences, and commemorations held on or near historic sites like the Gettysburg Address location, often featuring speakers ranging from former cabinet members to historians specializing in the Cold War and the American Revolution. Events have included panel discussions with veterans of the Vietnam War and the Gulf War, roundtables with members of the U.S. Congress and state governors, and youth leadership competitions mirroring formats used by the National Debate Tournament and the Future Farmers of America. Educational outreach collaborates with museums such as the National WWII Museum and media outlets including the PBS and the New York Times for broader public engagement.

Category:Think tanks based in the United States