About the book
Presidential historian Michael Beschloss follows a line of American chief executives as they led the country into major wars, rallied it for victory and expanded their own power. His cases include James Madison in the War of 1812 and Lyndon Johnson in Vietnam. Presidents are shown contending with Congress, the courts, the press, advisers and antiwar protesters, leaning on spouses, family and friends, and praying, and the account weighs which of them withstood the physical and emotional strain of war and which were broken by it. Beschloss spent ten years on the research and writing, using original letters, diaries, declassified national security papers and interviews with surviving participants.
Tom Hanks said Beschloss portrays the presidents in both historic and human terms. Bill Gates picked it up out of interest in Vietnam and came away having learned about eight other major American conflicts, with cross-cutting lessons on presidential leadership.
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This book has 2 recommendations
Tom Hanks (Actor, author)
Once again, Beschloss captures our Presidents in terms both historic and human, showing that whoever holds the office will fearlessly—or fearfully—impact our world.
Bill Gates (Founder/Microsoft)
My interest in all aspects of the Vietnam War is the main reason I decided to pick up this book. By the time I finished it, I learned a lot not only about Vietnam but about the eight other major conflicts the U.S. entered between the turn of the 19th century and the 1970s. Beschloss’s broad scope lets you draw important cross-cutting lessons about presidential leadership.
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