1953

Founding of Eisenhower Fellowships announced October 13, the articles of incorporation signed by Thomas B. McCabe (founding chairman), Walter Annenberg, Philip Sharples, Courtney Smith, and Ward Wheelock.

1954–55

First Multi Nation and USA Programs with 16 Fellows; J. Hampton Barnes executive director. Eisenhower administrative office moves from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to New York City.

1956

Ten-year $600,000 grant by Ford Foundation gives credibility and strong financial base to fledgling Eisenhower Fellowships.

1957

Founding chairman Thomas McCabe presents Eisenhower Fellowships with headquarters at 256 South 16th St. in Philadelphia.

1959

First newsletter for Fellows, EEF Bulletin, published.

1961

First Eisenhower regional conference, Geneva Switzerland. Fellows visit President John F. Kennedy in White House. Length of fellowship: 10 months.

1963

Eisenhower regional conference, Istanbul, Turkey.

1964

Regional conference organized by Argentine Fellows in Buenos Aires. Eisenhower network grows to 211 Fellows from 52 countries.

1965

First Eisenhower Fellow head of government: Suleyman Demirel becomes prime minister in Turkey.

1968

First Eisenhower Aspen Seminar.

1969

President Eisenhower dies. Robert O. Anderson becomes chairman.

1972

Program seminar held at SugarLoaf Conference Center for first time.

1974

Samuel C. Townsend becomes president of Eisenhower Fellowships.

1976

Eisenhower Fellowships’ First World Forum, San Francisco. No fellowship programs. Trustees decide, for the first time, to invite Fellows to the Board.

1977

Gerald R. Ford, 39th president of the U.S., joins Eisenhower as president. Taiwan Fellows organize Taipei conference, “Growth, Equity, Socio-Economic Development in the 1980s.” Length of fellowship: 4 months.

1978

Board elects Thomas S. Gates chairman and names Nicholas S. Ludington, Jr., executive director.

1980

President Ford and Thomas Gates assume co-chairmanship; Nicholas Ludington appointed president.

1982

William R. Crawford becomes president.

1984

Theodore W. Friend appointed president. U.S. Congress authorizes $7.5 million in grants to cover Eisenhower Fellowships expenses for five years, enabling trustees to plan first capital fund drive.

1986

First Single Nation Program with seven Philippine Fellows. Donald S. Rumsfeld becomes chairman. MNP Fellows contribute funding for Eisenhower’s first computer.

1988

First Dwight D. Eisenhower Medal for Leadership and Service awarded to Walter Annenberg and Thomas Watson.

1989

USA program revived. Fellows from Ireland and Northern Ireland participate in first Single Area Program.

1990

Five-year Centennial Challenge drive surpasses its goal of $7.5 million. Celebration of President Eisenhower’s centennial in Philadelphia. Second Eisenhower Fellowships’ World Forum “From Fellowship to Partnership.”

1991

Turkish Fellows present conference, “Perspective on Contemporary World Issues,” in Cesme. Founding of International Advisory Council.

1992

Irish Fellows organize conference in Dublin, Ireland and Belfast, Northern Ireland, “Europe, from the Atlantic to the Urals.” Federal trust fund established by Congress to benefit Eisenhower Fellowships.

1993

Indonesian Fellows host conference in Bali, “Challenges and Prospects in the Asia Pacific Region.”

1994

George Bush, 41st president of the United States, assumes chairmanship of Eisenhower Fellowships. Argentine Fellows present a conference in Buenos Aires, “Latin America and the World.”

1995

Athens is site of “Challenges of the Year 2000,” a conference organized by the Greek Fellows.

1996

Adrian A. Basora becomes president of Eisenhower Fellowships.

1997

Spanish Fellows host conference in Alicante, “Public and Private Sectors: Lessons from Worldwide Experiences.” Length of fellowship: 2 months.

1998

Tokyo and Kyoto are the sites for “Asia, Pacific Region, and the World” conference organized by the Japanese Fellows.

1999

First Fellows from Research Triangle, North Carolina, launching USA Regional Initiative.

2000

Dr. Henry A. Kissinger becomes chairman. Australian Fellows host conference, “Challenges and Opportunities for the New Millennium,” in Sydney. Directory of Eisenhower Fellows goes online.

2001

Top leadership positions held cumulatively over time by alumni include 4 heads of government, more than 100 cabinet level posts, 36 ambassadorships, and hundreds of CEO-level positions in the private sector, universities, and NGO organizations.

2002

German Fellows present “Communications in a Global World,” a conference in Berlin. Five Southeast Asia countries participate in first Single Region Program. Intra-Ike launched, connecting Fellows worldwide through the Web.

2003

50th Multi Nation program. Number of alumni Fellows reaches 1,530. 50th Anniversary Conference in Philadelphia, “Connecting Global Leaders”, draws Fellows from more than 50 countries.

2004

John S. Wolf becomes ninth president of Eisenhower Fellowships

2005

Fellows examine “Asia in the World” at EF’s alumni conference in Singapore.

2006

General Colin L. Powell becomes chairman, and is welcomed at global competitiveness conference in Philadelphia. Istanbul Fellows present conference, “Building Networks for Change: Europe and the Middle East.” First-ever USA Alumni Day is held.