National Catholic Reporter: Ike Memorial Design “Deplorable”

Michael Sean Winterson writes at the National Catholic Reporter: There is a storm brewing in Washington and, mercifully, it has nothing to do with conscience protections. The design for a monument to President Dwight Eisenhower as come in for criticism, especially from Eisenhower’s family who think the architect, Frank Gehry, took one line for a … Read more

Filed under classical and traditional architecture, Eisenhower Family, public opposition

Eisenhower_Memorial_towers_in_winter

Politico: Memorial Design Sparks Monumental Controversy

Politico reported on the opposition to Frank Gehry’s ugly design for the Eisenhower Memorial: Memorial design sparks controversy By: Puja Murgai February 15, 2012 10:49 PM EST How should Dwight D. Eisenhower be remembered? As the Supreme Allied Commander of World War II? As the president of the United States who fostered an era of … Read more

Filed under Anne Eisenhower, barefoot boy Eisenhower statue, Congressman Frank R. Wolf, David Eisenhower, Eisenhower Family, fast-tracked governmental approval, Frank Gehry, Leon Krier, National Capital Planning Commission, National Civic Art Society, public opposition, Susan Eisenhower, U.S. Commission of Fine Arts

Eisenhower Memorial viewed from Independence Ave. -- Source: Eisenhower Memorial Commission

Chicago Tribune: Richard Driehaus Does Battle Against Eisenhower Memorial Design

Blair Kamin reports at the Chicago Tribune that Richard Driehaus, one of the world’s staunchest supporters of traditional architecture, is fighting Frank Gehry’s avant-garde design for the national Eisenhower Memorial: Chicago investment manager and philanthropist Richard Driehaus is in the news this morning, not because he’s building a building, but because he’s putting his name on one. … Read more

Filed under classical and traditional architecture, Frank Gehry, Leon Krier, Modernism, Richard Driehaus

Scale study showing National Air and Space Museum (A), Jefferson Memorial (B), Washington Monument (C), Lincoln Memorial (D), and U.S. Department of Education (E). (Study by Léon Krier adapted from The Monumental and Commercial Center of the National Capital by Joseph Passonneau & Partners, 1996.)

Leon Krier: Eisenhower Memorial Design Is an XXL Anti-Monument

World-famous architect Leon Krier–an expert on Washington, D.C.’s architecture and urban planning–published a piercingly intelligent critique of the design for the Eisenhower Memorial in Metropolis Magazine: Eisenhower Memorial, Washington, D.C. By Leon Krier Image from designboom The Eisenhower Memorial competition and project have stirred a remarkable polemic, the center of which is not President Eisenhower … Read more

Filed under "columns", "tapestries", anti-heroism, bloated size, classical and traditional architecture, Frank Gehry, Leon Krier, McMillan Plan, Modernism, National Civic Art Society, Pierre L'Enfant, public opposition, ruined temple, theater for cars

Pulitzer-Prize Winner: Barefoot Boy Ike Statue “Discordant,” Indecorous

In the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pulitzer-Prize winner David Shribman thoughtfully weighs in on the controversy regarding how President Eisenhower ought to be memorialized.  His article does an excellent job at placing Eisenhower in historical context. National Perspective: Which Ike to Like? By David Shribman  In World War II, he tamed America’s allies and conquered its adversaries. … Read more

Filed under Anne Eisenhower, anti-heroism, barefoot boy Eisenhower statue, David Eisenhower, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Eisenhower Family, John S.D. Eisenhower, Kansas, public opposition, Susan Eisenhower

American Spectator: “Design for the Eisenhower Memorial … an Insult to All Concerned”

The American Spectator magazine published a scathing critique of the planned memorial to President Eisenhower: A Monstrosity, Not a Monument Frank Gehry’s design for the Eisenhower Memorial in Washington is an insult to all concerned. By Tom Bethell . . . The architect chosen to design the memorial is Frank Gehry and you surely have … Read more

Filed under "columns", "tapestries", closed competition, Eisenhower Memorial Commission, Frank Gehry, Kansas, National Civic Art Society, Pierre L'Enfant, public opposition, Robert Wilson, Rocco C. Siciliano

Congressman_Frank_R_Wolf

Congressman Frank Wolf Calls for Rejecting Gehry’s Eisenhower Memorial Design

The Associated Press reports great news for everyone trying to slow down the Eisenhower Memorial freight train:  A Virginia congressman is asking a federal panel to reject an architect’s design for a memorial honoring President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Washington, noting that the World War II general’s family’s objections.In a letter Friday to the National … Read more

Filed under "tapestries", barefoot boy Eisenhower statue, Congressional opposition, Congressman Frank R. Wolf, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Eisenhower Family, fast-tracked governmental approval, National Capital Planning Commission, public opposition

Planned Statue of President Eisenhower as a Life-Size Barefoot Boy -- Source: Gehry Parnters LLP

Better Cities & Towns: NCAS Report on the Eisenhower Memorial Is “Devastating”

At Better! Cities & Towns, one of the best publications devoted to urban planning, Philip Langdon penned what is perhaps the most thorough article yet on the flawed design of Frank Gehry’s Eisenhower Memorial: . . . The most scathing response to the design has been a 153-page report, “The Gehry Towers Over Eisenhower,” issued in … Read more

Filed under "columns", "tapestries", anti-heroism, barefoot boy Eisenhower statue, closed competition, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Eisenhower Family, National Capital Planning Commission, National Civic Art Society, public opposition, Susan Eisenhower, theater for cars

General_Eisenhower

Foreign Policy Magazine: “Who Likes Ike? Not Frank Gehry”

Writing for Foreign Policy, Stephen W. Walt, the esteemed professor of international relations at Harvard, scathingly reviews Frank Gehry’s avant-garde design for the Eisenhower Memorial. Who Likes Ike? Not Frank Gehry The family of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower is now weighing in against renowned architect Frank Gehry’s proposed design for an Eisenhower Memorial on … Read more

Filed under anti-heroism, barefoot boy Eisenhower statue, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Frank Gehry, NCAS Report on the Eisenhower Memorial, public opposition

Susan Eisenhower

Susan Eisenhower Rebuts Eisenhower Memorial Commission’s Executive Architect

Susan Eisenhower has written another important commentary (www.susaneisenhower.com) about the ghastly planned memorial to her grandfather.  She responds to various claims made by Dan Feil, the Eisenhower Memorial Commission’s executive architect.

Filed under "tapestries", Anne Eisenhower, barefoot boy Eisenhower statue, Daniel J. Feil, David Eisenhower, Eisenhower Family, Eisenhower Memorial Commission, fast-tracked governmental approval, Frank Gehry, John S.D. Eisenhower, National Capital Planning Commission, public opposition, Rocco C. Siciliano, Susan Eisenhower

WORLD Mag: Proposed Eisenhower Memorial Reflects a Nation that Has Forgotten Greatness

WORLD magazine published a piercing critique of the planned  Eisenhower Memorial: Mystic chords: The Proposed Eisenhower Memorial Reflects a Nation that has Forgotten Greatness . . . The Eisenhower National Memorial was commissioned in 1999, but the design was not unveiled until late last year, to a mixed reception. Early in January the controversy exploded … Read more

Filed under "columns", "tapestries", anti-heroism, barefoot boy Eisenhower statue, David Eisenhower, Eisenhower Family, Eisenhower Memorial Commission, Frank Gehry, Kansas, National Civic Art Society, public opposition

National_Civic_Art_Society_on_Fox_News_re_Eisenhower_Memorial

Fox News Highlights Opposition to Eisenhower Memorial Design

On January 25, 2012, Bret Baier featured the opposition to the Eisenhower Memorial on his Fox News show “Special Report.” Click here for the video.  According to the transcript: The family of late President Dwight Eisenhower wants the designers of a planned memorial in the nation’s capital to go back to the drawing board. It … Read more

Filed under "columns", "tapestries", barefoot boy Eisenhower statue, Eisenhower Family, fast-tracked governmental approval, National Civic Art Society, public opposition, the Memorial and the law

Planned Statue of President Eisenhower as a Life-Size Barefoot Boy -- Source: Gehry Parnters LLP

Washington Post: “Just Say No” to Eisenhower Memorial Design

Writing in the Washington Post, Roger K. Lewis, an esteemed architect and emeritus professor at the University of Maryland, severely criticizes Frank Gehry’s design for the national Eisenhower Memorial: Architect Frank Gehry’s design for the congressionally authorized memorial to President Dwight D. Eisenhower is creatively unconventional, innovative in form and use of materials, monumental in … Read more

Filed under "columns", "tapestries", barefoot boy Eisenhower statue, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Eisenhower Family, Frank Gehry, Kansas, National Capital Planning Commission, NCAS Report on the Eisenhower Memorial, public opposition, the Memorial and the law, U.S. Commission of Fine Arts

Susan Eisenhower Launches Ike Memorial Blog

Susan Eisenhower has launched an exciting new blog (www.susaneisenhower.com) to express her criticisms of the planned Memorial to honor her grandfather, President Eisenhower.   We encourage to read her thoughtful, highly persuasive commentary. The entire Eisenhower family has previously written a letter calling for a halt to the Memorial.  And in December 2011, David Eisenhower … Read more

Filed under "tapestries", barefoot boy Eisenhower statue, David Eisenhower, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Eisenhower Family, fast-tracked governmental approval, Kansas, public opposition, Susan Eisenhower

Frank_Gehry_Eisenhower_Memorial_model

Daily Caller: Eisenhower Family Objects to Expensive, Garish D.C. Monument

The Daily Caller published a hard-hitting news story on the opposition to Frank Gehry’s ghastly design for the Eisenhower Memorial: The family of the late Dwight Eisenhower has come out against a planned memorial to the former president that they believe is inappropriate, unsustainable and not in keeping with his wishes. Plans for the memorial, … Read more

Filed under "tapestries", barefoot boy Eisenhower statue, Charles Ray, Daniel J. Feil, David Eisenhower, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Eisenhower Family, Eisenhower Memorial Commission, Frank Gehry, National Capital Planning Commission, National Civic Art Society, NCAS Report on the Eisenhower Memorial, public opposition

Washingtonian: Q&A With Susan Eisenhower About the Fight Over Her Grandfather’s Memorial

Washingtonian magazine features an excellent interview of Susan Eisenhower by Carol Ross Joynt regarding the planned Eisenhower Memorial: When it comes to presidential families, the Eisenhower family is among the quietest. Rarely do they speak up about anything, but that has changed dramatically as plans are finalized for the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial adjacent to … Read more

Filed under "tapestries", barefoot boy Eisenhower statue, Charles Ray, David Eisenhower, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Eisenhower Family, Eisenhower Memorial Commission, Frank Gehry, National Capital Planning Commission, National Civic Art Society, public opposition

CNN: Family Questions Design of Eisenhower Statue

  CNN reports on the Eisenhower family’s unified opposition to Frank Gehry’s ugly design for the Eisenhower Memorial: President Dwight David Eisenhower’s family wants to put the brakes on the development of a memorial honoring the 34th U.S. president along the National Mall in Washington. The groundbreaking is scheduled for late 2012. “The concept of … Read more

Filed under "tapestries", barefoot boy Eisenhower statue, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Eisenhower Family, National Capital Planning Commission, National Park Service, public opposition, the Memorial and the law

Topeka Capital-Journal: Some Don’t Like Ike’s Memorial

Adding to the growing opposition from Kansas, the Topeka Capital-Journal  editorializes against Frank Gehry’s design for the Eisenhower Memorial: Is the story of Dwight D. Eisenhower about a small-town Kansas boy or about one of the 20th century’s greatest military leaders who became our nation’s 34th president? The answer to that question, as everyone knows, … Read more

Filed under "tapestries", barefoot boy Eisenhower statue, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Eisenhower Family, Kansas, public opposition

NPR: Eisenhower Family Objects to Design for Memorial

NPR’s “All Things Considered” aired an excellent report on the Memorial, which you can listen to here. Listen to the voice of Daniel J. Feil, the executive architect of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission, to hear how defensive he sounds.   That NPR mentions the “Unbuilt Washington” exhibit at the National Building Museum strongly suggests that this … Read more

Filed under "tapestries", barefoot boy Eisenhower statue, Daniel J. Feil, David Eisenhower, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Eisenhower Family, Eisenhower Memorial Commission, Frank Gehry, Kansas, public opposition

Wichita Eagle: Memorial Design Mocks Eisenhower’s Legacy

The people of Kansas are starting to learn just how offensive the Eisenhower Memorial is.  Brandon James Smith writes in the Wichita Eagle: Eisenhower is, without a doubt, one of Kansas’ best-known citizens. . . . But the current plans for the memorial are a postmodern monstrosity of enormous concrete pillars and steel tapestries lording … Read more

Filed under "tapestries", barefoot boy Eisenhower statue, David Eisenhower, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Eisenhower Family, Frank Gehry, Kansas, public opposition

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