One of the popular names in Jasper County is that of Charles A. Halleck [1], former U.S. House Majority Leader, and a close personal friend to President Eisenhower [2].
In 1962, the former president came to Rensselaer to personally endorse Halleck for re-election. This event is still talked about by residents who remember the visit. The day-long visit included a public speech delivered on the courthouse steps, the dedication of a cornerstone for Saint Joseph's College [3]'s Halleck Center, as well as other dinners and revelries that would accompany a visit from such a distinguished guest.
You can read the full text of Eisenhower's speech [4] that day at the National Archives. (The link is to a 190-page pdf of his collected post-Presidential speeches, organized by date. The speech is on pages 66-69.)
Click on the links below to see coverage from the Rensselaer Republican newspaper of the pre-visit preparation and the visit itself. These files were taken from the microfilm records available at the library.