C020. How George Marshall Changed History
Ike was commanding "our" forces in North Africa. (You would have to undertake intense study to gain even a slight hope of understanding why we were fighting there.) His Army couldn't spare one grunt to drive his jeep. (They probably believed that women couldn't or at least shouldn't drive--least of all in combat zones.)
The thoughtful British provided a woman to serve as his official jeep driver. Why did they pick a young and attractive one? You'd need to hold a seance to find that out. And then--well, you know--and possibly have even experienced--how "one thing can lead to another."
There was a problem, however. Ike suffered from a terminal case of what we have now medicalized to "erectile dysfunction." (In those days, he probably would have had to say "I can't get it up anymore.) Likely a result of his parents teaching him that if he ever masturbated, he would go immediately to Hell for Eternity.
The loving couple was not at all dissuaded by this. So, Ike wrote a message to his boss, George Marshall, in Washington. He said that he planned to divorce Mamie and marry this Brit. Marshall responded at once, telling Ike that "If you do this, I'll fire you and I'll ruin your reputation so you can't get a job." Strangely enough, that was very practical. It was a question of priorities for both of them--see?
The British took the girl hors de combat, and Ike went on with his questionably effective North African invasion. But, if Eisenhower had proceeded with his plan and gotten fired, then he obviously couldn't have run for President in 1952 (and 1956). That would have changed history.
Maybe we'd even have won the Korean War ("I will go to Korea"), and there would be no Emperor Kim today. Possibly we could have avoided two recessions. Still, you may wonder how Mamie fits into this story. Evidently it wasn't such a great idea in the first place for Ike to marry her. In fact, it was so silly that in this instance, History generously provides us with two entirely divergent explanations for it. Tell you later?