Harry S. Truman & Dwight David Eisenhower
Businesses Before Presidency & Military Life
He helped on his father's farm from 1906 until he joined the military to fight in World War I. After the war he opened a hat shop which failed in 1922. Truman was made a "judge" of Jackson Co., Missouri, which was an administrative post. From 1926-34, he was the head judge of the county. From 1935-45, he served as a Democratic Senator representing Missouri. Then in 1945, he assumed the vice presidency.
When World War I erupted, Truman volunteered for duty. Truman was promoted to captain in France and assigned Battery D.
Until a series of knee injuries forced him to stop playing football, he was the star player for the Abilene High School. In 1915, Eisenhower proudly graduated from West Point, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. After Eisenhower graduated from high school in 1909, he joined his father and uncle at the Belle Springs Creamery while also moonlighting as a fireman.
He was a second Lieutenant, after going to military school and graduating in the middle of his class.
