By TR Robertson Photos by Aaron Rumley and Maria Baranova
The second play of North Coast Repertory’s 44th season is a brilliantly acted one-man play starring Tony Award winner John Rubinstein. “Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground”, by Richard Hellesen, covers the story of one day in the retired life of the 34th President of the United States, Dwight David Eisenhower. During the course of the play, we see the former President in humorous moments, politically frustrated moments, moderately anguished moments with both newspapers and historians, and moments where we begin to understand the monumental accomplishments of this President. The play’s premise starts with a newspaper poll of historians ranking Presidents up to JFK. Eisenhower has been ranked, according to the historians who submitted the rankings, as the 22nd out of 31 most accomplished Presidents. This result has rankled Eisenhower, mainly because he is struggling with whether he needs to complete his 2nd autobiography about his time as a two-term President. His first autobiography was a successful, widely read account of his military service and accomplishments during World War II. Some of the funniest moments in the play are when Eisenhower makes comments about the Presidents ranked above him and when he suggests his own ranking of Presidents. As we listen to his accomplishments, struggles, behind-the-scenes occurrences, and justifications behind some of the decisions he has made, it becomes more evident that these historians may have “missed the boat” in ranking Eisenhower. As shown, in other polls throughout the years, Eisenhower has now risen to a position in the Top 5 of the most accomplished Presidents in the United States.
Playing Eisenhower is the accomplished actor, John Rubinstein. Rubinstein has won numerous awards and accolades throughout the years, most notably a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for his portrayal of James Leeds in “Children of a Lesser God”. Playwright Richard Hellesen has written close to 40 plays and musicals, including a musical adaptation of Charles Dickens ‘ A Christmas Carol. “Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground” opened Off-Broadway at the St. Clemens Theatre in New York City in 2023. Rubinstein received Outer Critics Circle and Off-Broadway Alliance nominations for his performance as Eisenhower at its opening.
As Eisenhower, Rubinstein draws the audience into the inner most thoughts of the former President, presenting him as a man of extreme accomplishments, but as a man who fully believes he has remained a President of the people, who has tried all his life to do what is best for the American public, both as a war time leader and as a political leader. We hear about his parents, his early life in Texas and Abilene. He discusses how he ended up at West Point and his time there. As Eisenhower, we learn about his rise in ranks, both in WW I and WW II, to brigadier general. Wonderful vintage photos are shown in the background, through what was initially a picture window looking out on the Eisenhower Farm and the hills of Gettysburg in the distance. These photos include portraits of his parents, his large family of siblings, his early homes, his time at West Point and much more. After the war years Rubinstein continues, in a cleverly designed play, to allow Eisenhower to both show his frustrations with the newspaper poll, his decisions surrounding continuing the 2nd autobiography, a call with his wife of 35 years, Maime, and weaving in more information about the accomplishments of Eisenhower. We hear about his time as the President of Columbia University and as the Supreme Commander of NATO. His frustration with those that opposed NATO also surfaces during his story of his political campaigns. Eisenhower’s main goals of stopping the spread of communism and his reduction of the federal deficits and balancing the budget point to his success as a leader. More is pointed out when he speaks about the Korean War and how he helped establish the armistice that ended the conflict and how he dealt with China. We also hear about the start of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam, the struggles in the Mid-East, his involvement in the Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba. Other accomplishments include expanding the Social Security Administration, dealing with Civil Rights issues, opposing the extremism of Joseph McCarthy, creating NASA, and dealing with the U2 spy plane issues and the effect it had on relationships with Khruschev and Russia.
Along the way we hear about his relationships with his grand-children, his love of golf, the story of their move to the Eisenhower Farm, his love of western novels of Zane Gray, the admission of Hawaii and Alaska to the United States and one of the things he feels is the greatest of his accomplishments; the creation of the Interstate Highway System that improved the road conditions and connections throughout the Untied States. We also hear about what he feels is his middle-of-the-road political position, referred to by historians as Progressive Conservatism. Interestingly, his dislike of General MacArthur and his involvement in the Korean War and consideration for a Presidential run, show a side of Eisenhower many did not know. Eisenhower’s Vice President, Richard Nixon, is only referred to once, in a complementary way, since Watergate was still years away.
Yes, this is a bit of a historical play, but the presentation, story line and performance by Rubinstein make this most enjoyable and easy flowing and a history lesson that moves quickly and one that we I wish the majority of the way other history lessons were presented. “Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground” is directed by Peter Ellenstein, Producing Artistic Director of the New Los Angeles Repertory Company. Joe Huppert is Stage Manager, Marty Burnett designed the set, Matthew Novotny handled light designs, and Clarence Lightfoot is the Productions Assistant.
This is another one of those don’t miss plays presented at North Coast Rep. Not only will you learn a lot about a President you probably don’t know much about, but you will see a brilliant performance by an accomplished actor. Much of what Eisenhower has to say can certainly be used in today’s political atmosphere. Go to www.northcoastrep.org or call 858-481-1055. The play will be on the North Coast Rep stage until November 23rd. Coming next to North Coast Rep is “2 Pianos 4 Hands” beginning on December 11th.
Eisenhower Words of Wisdom
“Whatever America hopes to bring to pass in the world” must first come to pass in the heart of America.”
“A sound nation is built of individuals sound in body and mind and spirit. Government does not ignore the individual citizens”
“Democracy is essentially a political system that recognizes the equality of humans before the law.”
