During the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways was finalized and signed into law. Gaining support for the Interstate Highway System required foresight and courage as he committed the nation to an intensive program of road building. This unprecedented public works project provided high-speed highway facilities connecting major population centers throughout the United States. Much of the economic growth enjoyed by the United States can be directly attributed to the Interstate Highway System, and the mobility and safety enjoyed by motorists today are a direct result of President Eisenhower’s leadership and vision of the future.