Any commander in chief who had Montgomery as a subordinate deserves sympathy, but then "Ike", if not a born military genius, was an excellent Chairman of the Board and had the tact and skill to handle him. Monty was Churchill's pet general, he had an image carefully fostered by the British press, and he had at least the victory of El Alamein under his belt. The nature of the Atlantic Alliance needed an English soldier in high command, especially since the Normandy Invasion was launched from England, and Monty was also a good organiser if an ultra cautious field commander. After the war in civilian life, Eisenhower's shrewdness and balance and sense of public relations brought him ultimately to the US Presidency, while Monty was always rather a liability politically. In private, "Ike" seems to have detested his old subordinate commander and saw as little of him as possible in later life.