Categories

Presidents of War

Presidents of War

By Michael Beschloss

The Epic Story, from 1807 to Modern Times. Crown, 2018.

0.0 / 0

19 mins read

16 Key insights

A brief summary of Presidents of War

The fascinating and arduous exploration of war from 1812 to the present, spotlighting the augmentation of American presidential war powers while simultaneously weakening constitutional restrictions placed by the founders in order to prevent tyranny.

Key insights in Presidents of War

1
What do you get from this book? Learn how U.S. presidents violate the Constitution by exploiting war to gain power
2
America’s founders framed the constitution to limit presidential war power, but time and again presidents have ignored the founders’ doctrines
3
Thomas Jefferson ignored the will of the people and blamed others for his mistakes in an effort to avoid war
4
James Madison used deception to persuade congress and American citizens into entering a war against Britain
5
The War of 1812 established dangerous precedents regarding the omission of facts and the denigration of critics
6
James Polk deceived congress into launching the Mexican-American War so he could expand America’s territory
7
Abraham Lincoln suspended civil liberties and declared war without congressional approval, though he did so reluctantly
8
William McKinley initially showed restraint in declaring war against Spain, only to push for global expansion once it was underway
9
Woodrow Wilson deceived the public with his propaganda techniques, and restricted civil liberties with his espionage bill and sedition act
10
Franklin Roosevelt followed tradition by ignoring civil liberties but established a new precedent by authorizing the production of nuclear weapons
11
Harry Truman utilized the United Nations when declaring war on North Korea and reestablished a civilian-run military
12
Lyndon Johnson concealed the truth and persuaded Congress to establish a resolution that increased his executive power
13
Congress has allowed presidents to overexert their power, though it’s possible times are changing
14
Summary of the key insights
15
Selected critiques in brief
16
Final word

Who should read Presidents of War

Historians • politicians • history professors and students • American history enthusiasts • anyone interested in wartime or presidential history

About the author of Presidents of War

Michael Beschloss is an American historian with an MBA from Harvard Business School. He served as a historian at the Smithsonian Institution and as a trustee of the White House Historical Association and National Archives Foundation. He was the NBC News Presidential Historian and is the recipient of the Ambassador Book Prize.

author avatar

Michael Beschloss

Books similar to Presidents of War

Related books that discuss topics similar to the book Presidents of War

Songs of America

Songs of America

Jon Meacham

Patriotism, Protest, and the Music That Made a Nation. Random House, 2019.

18 mins read

1 reads

You Never Forget Your First

You Never Forget Your First

Alexis Coe

A Biography of George Washington. Viking, 2020.

19 mins read

23 reads

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

Walter Isaacson

An American Life. Simon and Schuster, 2003.

20 mins read

3 reads

Team of Rivals

Team of Rivals

Doris Kearns Goodwin

The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. Simon & Schuster, 2005.

18 mins read

0 reads

Accidental Presidents

Accidental Presidents

Jared Cohen

Eight Men Who Changed America. Simon & Schuster, 2019.

17 mins read

2 reads

Related topics discussed in other books

Other books on similar topics in other fields and categories that may interest you

You might be interested in

Related books discuss other topics that are not necessarily similar to the topics of the book Presidents of War

The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing

The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing

Violate Them at Your Own Risk. Harper Business, 1993.

16 mins read

0 reads

All Made Up

All Made Up

The Power and Pitfalls of Beauty Culture, from Cleopatra to Kim Kardashian. Beacon Press, 2021.

19 mins read

3 reads

Why Is Sex Fun?

Why Is Sex Fun?

The Evolution of Human Sexuality. Basic Books, 1998.

12 mins read

3 reads

The Code

The Code

Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America. Penguin Press, 2019.

21 mins read

1 reads

The Man Who Knew Too Much

The Man Who Knew Too Much

Alan Turing and the Invention of the Computer. Atlas Books, 2006.

18 mins read

2 reads

How to Lie with Statistics

How to Lie with Statistics

How to Lie with Statistics. W.W. Norton & Company, 1982 edition.

14 mins read

2 reads

Fooling Houdini

Fooling Houdini

Magicians, Mentalists, Math Geeks, and the Hidden Powers of the Mind. HarperCollins, 2012.

13 mins read

0 reads

Shakespeare in a Divided America

Shakespeare in a Divided America

Shakespeare in a Divided America. Penguin Books, 2021.

13 mins read

0 reads

From Strength to Strength

From Strength to Strength

Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life. Portfolio, 2022.

17 mins read

6 reads

The Lincoln Conspiracy

The Lincoln Conspiracy

The Secret Plot to Kill America's 16th President-and Why It Failed. Flatiron Books, 2020.

16 mins read

0 reads

See all books in Science & Technology

Explore more in these categories

Discover other books in various fields that contain the topics of Presidents of War

What Lobab users are saying

Not sure if Lobab e-book and audiobook summaries are for you? Take a look at what a few of our satisfied users are saying about our powerful platform.

Ramogh

Lobab is a standout in the world of book summary apps, offering concise, insightful summaries of a wide range of books. Its user-friendly interface and well-crafted summaries allow users to quickly grasp the essence of complex works, making it an invaluable tool for those looking to learn more in less time. Whether for personal growth or professional development, Lobab is a game changer for anyone wanting to expand their knowledge efficiently. Highly recommended!

Benjamin Roche

Top quality app with plenty of brilliant summaries!

Nedal Ahmed

I found a really great book app that has made reading even more enjoyable ⭐️📚. It is super easy to use, has a lot of books to choose from, gives personalized recommendations, works well with e-readers, has an active community, and is accessible to everyone. I highly recommend it to all book enthusiasts!

Shaabi12A

I really liked the idea of the combination between the facts of the book and the issues of it in one summary. Well done.

iiMaan18ii

High quality and standards, the dark mode is good idea and good experience. So excited about the new books you’re going to add.

Eyad

Excellent experience, I can read and listen to a book within 15 mins. I appreciate the ease of use as well.

Fahad

Unique experience of book summaries delivering high quality, bestseller books, and very well-designed app. Highly recommend 👍👍

Understand books and audiobooks in 15 minutes - with Lobab!

books