Presidents of war / Michael Beschloss.
"From a preeminent presidential historian comes a groundbreaking and often surprising saga of America's wartime chief executives. Ten years in the research and writing, Presidents of War is a fresh, magisterial, intimate look at a procession of American leaders as they took the nation into conflict and mobilized their country for victory. It brings us into the room as they make the most difficult decisions that face any President, at times sending hundreds of thousands of American men and women to their deaths. From James Madison and the War of 1812 to recent times, we see them struggling with Congress, the courts, the press, their own advisors and antiwar protesters; seeking comfort from their spouses, families and friends; and dropping to their knees in prayer. We come to understand how these Presidents were able to withstand the pressures of war--both physically and emotionally--or were broken by them. Beschloss's interviews with surviving participants in the drama and his findings in original letters, diaries, once-classified national security documents, and other sources help him to tell this story in a way it has not been told before. Presidents of War combines the sense of being there with the overarching context of two centuries of American history. This important book shows how far we have traveled from the time of our Founders, who tried to constrain presidential power, to our modern day, when a single leader has the potential to launch nuclear weapons that can destroy much of the human race."-- Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9780307409607 (hardcover)
- ISBN: 0307409600 (hardcover)
- Physical Description: xi, 739 pages, 32 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 25 cm
- Edition: First edition.
- Publisher: New York : Crown, [2018]
Content descriptions
Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references (pages 591-695) and index. |
Formatted Contents Note: | Preface -- Prologue: The fugitive -- "Torrent of passion" -- "Man of straw" -- "The most glorious war" -- "The country is now virtually ours" -- "A presidential war" -- Fort Sumter -- "Blood flowing all about me" -- "Maine blown up" -- "We must keep what we want" -- "The world is on fire" -- "Salvation of mankind" -- "How could this have happened?" -- "The survival war" -- "I am going to let them have it" -- "I didn't ask their permission" -- "We got slapped" -- "I do not have a parachute" -- Epilogue. |
Search for related items by subject
Subject: | Presidents > United States > History. Political leadership > United States > History. Executive power > United States > History. United States > History, Military. |
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Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
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Easton Main Library | 355 B554p (Text) | 31901004284685 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
Abington Community Library | 355.0097 BESCHLO (Text) | 50687011604355 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
Albright Memorial Library | 355.0097 BESCHLO (Text) | 50686015398790 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
Allentown Public Library | 355.00973 BESC (Text) | 34455006495259 | Adult Nonfiction 2nd FL | Available | - |
Annie Halenbake Ross Library | 355 Bes (Text) | 00140518 | ADULT Non-Fiction | Available | - |
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Barrett Paradise Friendly Library | 355. Bes (Text) | 37171000015764 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
Bethlehem Main Library | 355.009 (Text) | 33062009059388 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
Brandywine Community Library | 355.009 BES (Text) | 33249022394724 | Non-fiction | Available | - |
Cambria County Library | 355.009 B554p (Text) | 85131001627513 | CACM Non-Fiction | Available | - |