Presidents at War

“Mr. Gillon’s war stories, gripping in themselves, encourage us to be skeptical of any unified theory applied to human conflict. Better, on this Presidents Day, to recognize a generation of American statesmen who demonstrated leadership long before they were entrusted with the greatest responsibilities on the planet.” —Wall Street Journal

“Gillon skillfully weaves the largely familiar stories of the seven U.S. presidents in office from 1953 to 1993 into a compelling account of how their characters, careers, and views were shaped by World War II.” —Foreign Affairs

“Steven Gillon deftly explores how service in World War II influenced the views, character, and policy positions of seven U.S. Presidents… Serious study should sharpen thinking and reveal mental traps, and Gillon’s insightful work will help military leaders at all levels do both.” —U.S. Naval Institute

“Sometimes, you might wonder why a president thinks as he does. What’s shaped his world outlook, and why is he passionate about that on which he focuses? In “Presidents at War” by Steven M. Gillon, you’ll be transported through time to get an answer.” —The Bookworm Sez

“Political historian Gillon considers the effects of World War II on a generation of presidents … Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush … World War II shaped the political outlook of all these presidents, from Nixon’s endless grievances to JFK’s careful strategizing (and a few dirty tricks) and “bland good guy” Reagan’s hail-fellow-well-met approach to politics. War is hell—but also, this history shows, a good way to get elected.” —Kirkus

“Steven M. Gillon brilliantly blends vivid biographical sketches with astute political analysis to give us a fresh and authoritative take on the “Presidents at War.” With subtlety and grace as well as a thorough grounding in the sources, the author examines the powerful ways that World War II shaped the careers and outlooks of seven men who would go on to occupy the Oval Office. It’s an inspiring story, resonant with meaning for our own troubled age.” —Fredrik Logevall, Harvard University and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Embers of War

“Insightful and nuanced, Presidents at War reveals the lasting impact of World War 2 on seven of America’s Cold War leaders. Their service in that conflict steeled their personal courage and heightened their confidence in the American experiment. But they sometimes drew inflexible analogies from the war that led the country into overseas conflicts and imperial overreach. An exemplary work of presidential history.” —William I . Hitchcock, New York Times bestselling author of The Age of Eisenhower

“Steven M. Gillon weaves together an exciting and previously untold tale about war and the American presidency. Fascinating, fast-paced, intensely researched, Presidents at War offers a whole new take on these great men.” —Martin Dugard, New York Times bestselling author of Taking London and the forthcoming Taking Midway

“In this terrific book about the weight of history, Steven M. Gillon traces the impact of World War II on the American presidents who, as younger men, fought its battles. From Eisenhower through Bush, the war framed their understanding of threats and opportunities, at home and abroad, and the policies they pursued in the postwar era. It also shaped the presidency itself, as Gillon reveals in writing that is clear, smooth and compelling. A powerful reminder that the lessons of the past can obscure as much as they illuminate.” —Marc J. Selverstone, author of The Kennedy Withdrawal and Director of Presidential Studies, Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia

“As the memories of World War II fade and with them, the lessons of that conflict, Presidents at War presents the compelling story of how the war helped forge the characters of seven American commanders-in-chief and, in turn, helped forge the character of the nation. Cinematically cross-cutting among its protagonists, Gillon gives us a thrilling, narratively-driven, living history interwoven with original insights. Gillon is one of America’s most distinguished historians. This is history at its best.” —Neal Gabler, author of Walt Disney, winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Biography and USA Today Biography of the Year