He went off to war an unknown soldier and returned a beloved national hero. Often dismissed as a "do-nothing" president and a good-natured bumbler, Dwight D. Eisenhower — the last American president to be born in the 19th century — was a skillful politician, a tough Cold War warrior, and one of America's most misunderstood and unappreciated presidents.

Part 1 chronicles Eisenhower's childhood, education at West Point and military career, culminating in his service as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.