Episode 1

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Published on:

27th Aug 2025

What Would Ike Do Today? Susan Eisenhower on Leadership, Civic Duty, and the Lessons of History

What would President Dwight D. Eisenhower say about today’s leadership? Susan Eisenhower joins The Civic Brief to explore Ike’s legacy, moral clarity, civic duty, and lessons for modern leadership.

From the frontlines of World War II to warning America about the military-industrial complex, President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s legacy is more relevant than ever. In this episode of The Civic Brief, host Dr. Isaiah “Ike” Wilson sits down with Susan Eisenhower, strategist, author of How Ike Led, and granddaughter of the former president, for a powerful conversation on civic duty, reflective leadership, and what it means to lead with moral clarity in times of disruption.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • How Dwight D. Eisenhower's leadership principles apply to today's fractured civic and political landscape
  • Why Susan Eisenhower believes restraint, reflection, and responsibility are essential for modern leadership
  • What Eisenhower's farewell warning about the military-industrial complex means in an age of AI and big tech
  • The importance of civic engagement, taxation as service, and reviving American resilience
  • How strategic empathy shaped Eisenhower’s foreign policy and why it’s urgently needed today

Susan Eisenhower shares intimate stories and sharp insights drawn from her grandfather’s presidency, military command, and personal legacy. Dr. Ike Wilson guides this timely Civic Brief conversation, unpacking lessons in civic virtue, foreign policy foresight, and the enduring power of American resilience. If you’re wondering what real leadership looks like in times of uncertainty this episode delivers.

Key Timestamps:

  • (00:00) Welcome to The Civic Brief: Why Eisenhower still matters
  • (02:06) Why Susan wrote How Ike Led and its eerie relevance today
  • (10:10) Eisenhower’s forgotten pandemic leadership and parallels to COVID-19
  • (17:30) Moral authority, economic discipline, and national unity
  • (23:00) Taxation, philanthropy, and civic responsibility
  • (28:01) Strategic empathy and global foresight in Eisenhower’s foreign policy
  • (35:00) Reflection, resilience, and hobbies as leadership tools
  • (42:04) Reframing the military-industrial-technological complex
  • (44:00) Hidden-hand leadership and governing with integrity
  • (47:50) Final reflections: What America must remember from Eisenhower’s legacy

Key Takeaways:

  • Leadership grounded in moral authority and moderation-Dwight Eisenhower's leadership style emphasized reflection and restraint over reaction, a model worth reviving today.
  • Civic duty is a form of taxation- Susan argues that civic engagement, not just financial contribution, is essential to a functioning democracy.
  • History is our roadmap through complexity- The leadership lessons from Eisenhower’s presidency, including his handling of pandemics and foreign alliances, hold surprising relevance today.
  • Strategic empathy creates stronger global policy- Understanding adversaries like the Soviet Union helped Eisenhower craft policy grounded in reality, not ideology.
  • Beware the expanded military-industrial-technological complex- Eisenhower’s farewell warning about unchecked power has grown to include big tech and AI, making civic awareness more vital than ever.


Resources & Mentions:

Guest Bio:

Susan Eisenhower is a distinguished author, consultant, and public policy expert known for her work on international security and leadership. As the granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, she brings rare insight into presidential history and civic life. Her book How Ike Led offers an intimate yet analytical portrait of Eisenhower’s presidency and the principles that defined his legacy. Susan is the Chairman Emeritus of the Eisenhower Institute and a frequent contributor to major publications and policy panels.

Keywords

Civic Engagement Podcast, National Security and Public Policy, Leadership and Strategy Podcast, Dr. Ike Wilson Podcast, The Civic Brief, Eisenhower legacy, civic education, leadership values, Cold War strategy, strategic empathy, political polarization, national security, military industrial complex, AI and defense, reflective leadership, presidential history



Transcript

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About the Podcast

The Civic Brief
Explore civic engagement, global affairs, and national security through real stories that connect public policy, systems thinking, and everyday life. The Civic Brief unpacks how domestic and international issues are colliding at the local level, reshaping how we live, lead, and make sense of a rapidly evolving world. Hosted by Dr. Isaiah “Ike” Wilson III, this podcast bridges the gap between abstract policy and real human impact.

From political polarization to economic instability, climate disruption to global conflict, this podcast helps listeners navigate complexity with clarity. It explores the intersections of foreign policy, civic breakdown, and leadership under pressure. These aren't distant headlines. They are systems-level challenges that affect communities, households, and individuals in real time.

Dr. Wilson brings over 40 years of leadership across military, academic, and public service domains. His experience spans national security, civic strategy, education reform, and diplomacy. With each episode, he brings that perspective to bear through compelling solo insights and thought-provoking interviews with experts who have lived and led through complexity. These guests include policy makers, military leaders, educators, and civic and commercial innovators who understand how change really happens.

The podcast explores a wide range of core themes including civic engagement, global affairs, public trust, political polarization, compound security, and long-term strategic foresight. It brings together systems thinking, leadership, and cross-sector innovation to offer listeners the tools to think critically and act ethically.

A standout feature of The Civic Brief is the “Walk With Me” audio series. These immersive narrative experiences imagine near future scenarios guided by the lessons of historic visionaries such as Nelson Mandela, Dwight Eisenhower, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. These speculative futures are not just stories. They are creative civic tools designed to stretch our imagination, expand our understanding of possibility, and invite strategic reflection on what comes next.
The show is part of the Professors Without Portfolio initiative, a strategic audio-visual extension of Wilson W.i.S.E. Consulting LLC. This platform reclaims public knowledge as a shared civic resource and connects diverse voices across disciplines, generations, and sectors. The goal is to democratize expertise, break institutional silos, and create a new kind of civic-intellectual commons.

Whether you are a policymaker, educator, strategist, student, or concerned citizen, The Civic Brief gives you the insights and foresight to better understand today’s biggest challenges and contribute meaningfully to tomorrow’s solutions. This podcast is for those ready to engage deeply, think broadly, and help shape a more resilient and just society.

About the host: Dr. Isaiah “Ike” Wilson III is a scholar-practitioner, retired U.S. Army colonel, and founder of Wilson W.i.S.E. Consulting LLC. He is widely respected for his work in national security strategy, civic education, and interdisciplinary leadership. Through his platforms, he is building civic capacity and ethical leadership to meet the demands of our most complex challenges.

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Resource Links:
Website: https://wilsonwise.com/
Think Beyond War: https://thinkbeyondwar.com/
Substack: https://compoundsecurityunlocked.substack.com/
Consulting and Projects: Wilson W.i.S.E. Consulting LLC

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Isaiah Wilson