President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969)
As a young Army officer, his views about the need for a network of Interstate highways were shaped in 1919 by a 62-day, 3,000-mile cross-country trek over dirt, mud, and sand roads. As a general during World War II, he also witnessed the efficiency and strategic value of Germany’s Autobahn. Later, as president, Eisenhower worked to build a similar superhighway in the U.S., not only for military transport and evacuation of cities, but also to help reduce road fatalities and connect communities.
On June 29, 1956, President Eisenhower signed the law authorizing construction of the Interstate Highway System and creating the Highway Trust Fund to pay for it. It was the most notable domestic achievement of his presidency, and has been called one of the greatest achievements of the federal government during the second half of the 20th century.
The 48,000-mile road network became the thread that connects the fabric of America, the lifeblood of the U.S. economy, and provides an unprecedented level of mobility and safety for all Americans.
