Mamie Geneva Doud Eisenhower

Mamie and Chocolate Marble Cookies

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First Ladies - 1900 to 2000

Mamie Doud Eisenhower*

President Dwight D. Eisenhower*

Mamie Eisenhower*
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First Lady Mamie and President Dwight D. Eisenhower
First Lady - 1953 – 1961
Quotes from Mamie -

• “Ike runs the country, and I turn the pork chops.”
• “Of course, being mistress of the White House is a terrific responsibility, and I am truly grateful for my Army wife training.”
• “I’ve just had the first good night’s sleep I’ve had since we’ve been in the White House. Our new bed finally got here, and now I can reach over and pat Ike on his old bald head any time I want to!”

​Factoids - 

• Mamie was the first First Lady to appear on television and also appear in a Presidential campaign ad.
• Mamie opened the grounds of the White House Easter Egg Roll to African American children for the first time.

Bio - 

• Margaret “Mamie” Doud was born in Iowa and later grew up in Colorado.  After she graduated from a private school, she met Dwight Eisenhower (Ike), a serviceman.  A year later they were married and Mamie had to adjust to being a military wife and later, the mother of two sons.  For the next twenty years, Mamie and Ike travelled the States and the world - following his military career and building a welcoming sense of hospitality.
• Ike's career sky-rocketed during World War II and afterwards.  He was General of the U.S. Army and Supreme Commander of Allied Forces. Mamie spent the war in a lonely Washington Hotel, volunteering for the American Red Cross and being with their son, who was at West Point.  
• When Ike won the Presidency in 1952, Mamie truly came to life as a vivacious and much beloved First Lady.  ​Mamie and Ike loved family and all events with grandchildren.  Mamie was famous for decorating the White House for holidays and for bringing back the tradition of the White House Easter Egg Roll. 
• Mamie's style was popular with the public, with many women copying her fashion and flair.  Her love for pink even garnered the name, "Mamie Pink," the color of her inaugural gown!  Mamie's super short bangs became a trend, as well.   

About Dwight (Ike) - Dwight Eisenhower, as 34th president, oversaw many important events in America's history.  Dwight helped end the Korean War, while maintaining a strong economy, the construction of interstate highways, and the establishment of NASA.  He worked with a campaign to secure the beginning of the Civil Rights movement, helping to make racial segregation in schools unconstitutional.  He pursued a policy of containment against communism while avoiding direct military confrontation. 

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Chocolate Marble Cookies

The Eisenhowers were very family-oriented.  Ike was a great cook and enjoyed it as one of his favorite hobbies.  Mamie was well-known for donating many of her recipes to church cookbooks and cookbooks for other organizations.  Her most favorite was her 'Million Dollar Fudge", but her Chocolate Marble Cookies were also popular.  

Ingredients
2 cups chocolate chips
2 cups chopped pecans
1 pound butter
1 & 1/3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup extra sugar for garnishing
whole pecans for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. Melt the chocolate chips.  Stir in the cups chopped pecans.  Set aside.
3. Cream 1 pound of butter.  Add gradually 1 1/3 cups sugar. Add 2 teaspoons vanilla.
4. Whisk 4 cups of flour with 1/2 teaspoon salt.  Add gradually to the butter mixture.
5. Add chocolate mixture using a long-pronged fork.  Streak through to marble. Don’t mix too much.
6. Make golf ball size balls. Dip in sugar on one side.  Press one pecan half into the top of the cookie. Put on parchment lined cookie sheet.
7. Bake for 16 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.  

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Portrait Credits*
Mamie Eisenhower - oil painting - Thomas E. Stephens, White House Portraits, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; photo in blue dress - White House photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
​Dwight Eisenhower - Harry Warnecke, Robert F. Cranston, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Elsie M. Warnecke, Public domain CC