Presidents at War
How World War II Shaped a Generation of Presidents, from Eisenhower and JFK through Reagan and Bush
1 of 1 copy available
World War II loomed over the latter half of the twentieth century, transforming every level of American society and international relationships and searing itself onto the psyche of an entire generation, including that of seven American presidents: Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush.
The lessons of World War II, more than party affiliation or ideology, defined the presidencies of these seven men. They returned home determined to confront any force that threatened to undermine the war’s hard-won ideals, each with their own unique understanding of patriotism, sacrifice, and America’s role in global politics.
In Presidents at War, Gillon examines what these men took away from the war and how they then applied it to Cold War policies that proceeded to change America, and the world, forever. A nuanced and deeply researched exploration of the lives, philosophies, and legacies of seven remarkable men, Presidents at War deftly argues that the lessons learned by these postwar presidents continue to shape the landscape upon which current and future presidents stand today.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
February 18, 2025 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780593183144
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780593183144
- File size: 5189 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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February 15, 2025
Political historian Gillon considers the effects of World War II on a generation of presidents. It was "the defining event of their lives": When the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor, seven future presidents--Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush--resolved to take part in some way or another. Eisenhower was a career soldier who had never commanded a unit in combat: It was his cheerful network building, coupled with a sharply analytical mind, that brought him to the forefront as a war planner and leader. Nixon, Eisenhower's vice president, was as ever cynical: He knew that military service would be a ticket to a political future and got a rear-echelon assignment in the Navy. More daring but with the same recognition of political utility, JFK famously commanded a PT boat, becoming a decorated war hero--though, Gillon writes, JFK almost torpedoed his own career because of an affair with a woman suspected of being a Nazi spy. LBJ and Bush took to the skies, the former as an analyst, the second as a fighter pilot, also much decorated. (Gillon suggests that Johnson received an undeserved Silver Star at Douglas MacArthur's bequest "to consummate their agreement that Johnson would be his advocate" in Congress.) Ford trained pilots on the ground in physical education. Reagan didn't want to fight, didn't want to give up a shot at being a movie star--and when it was clear that he was just a B-list actor with a safe commission that didn't take him beyond California, he turned to politics. 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.COPYRIGHT(2025) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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