Lots 927-947 in this auction are associated with President Dwight "Ike" Eisenhower and his relationship with the Woodruffs.

Supreme Allied World War II Commander, President of the United States, adamant golfer, painter, West Point graduate.

Eisenhower and Robert Woodruff were long-time bosom buddies. Woodruff at the start of World War II, ordered “...that every man in uniform gets a bottle of Coca-Cola for 5 cents, wherever he is and whatever it costs the Company.” According to the Coca-Cola Company, “This effort to supply the armed forces with Coke was being launched when an urgent cablegram arrived from General Dwight Eisenhower’s Allied Headquarters in North Africa. Dated June 29, 1943, it requested shipment of materials and equipment for 10 bottling plants. Prefaced by the directive that the shipments were not to replace other military cargo, the cablegram also requested shipment of 3 million filled bottles of Coca-Cola, along with supplies for producing the same quantity twice monthly.“

Eisenhower and Robert Woodruff were long-time comrades. Woodruff supported Eisenhower’s decision to run in the 1952 Presidential election and was there when the tally confirmed his win. The Los Angeles Times commented that “Of all the Presidents he knew, Woodruff was closest to Dwight D. Eisenhower who gave him White Pass No. 1”, granting Woodruff the ability to come and go as he pleased with no hassle from the Secret Service.

Eisenhower was instrumental in proposing and authorizing the 1956 Federal Highway Bill, which created an automobile “internet” thereby opening vast regions of the US to more efficient and safe car travel. It then became easier to drive to Augusta National (although Eisenhower traveled by train). Ike not only played regularly at the “National” but at one point even attempted to have the facility remove a large 65-foot loblolly pine tree that became Eisenhower’s nemesis on the 17th hole, thus making it “one of the famous trees in American golf.” The tree was removed in February 2014 after sustaining “natural” damage during a major ice storm. GOLFWEEK in its December 1999 issue declared Eisenhower as “the century’s most important golfer.”

Eisenhower was a regular at Ichauway Plantation bagging turkeys and quail with the best of them. He was a dedicated artist as well, painting numerous landscapes and the occasional portrait including the portrait of George Washington in this auction.