Presidents at War
How World War II Shaped a Generation of Presidents, from Eisenhower and JFK Through Reagan and Bush
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Presidents at War
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Narrated by:
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Fred Sanders
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By:
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Steven M. Gillon
About this listen
Steven M. Gillon, historian and New York Times bestselling author, is back with the story of how WWII shaped the characters and politics of seven American presidents.
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.
©2025 Steven M. Gillon (P)2025 Steven M. GillonCritic reviews
“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
“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