Presidents of War
By Michael Beschloss
The Epic Story, from 1807 to Modern Times. Crown, 2018.
Summary of Presidents of War book by Michael Beschloss
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.
Chapters in Presidents of War book summary
What do you get from this book? Learn how U.S. presidents violate the Constitution by exploiting war to gain power
America’s founders framed the constitution to limit presidential war power, but time and again presidents have ignored the founders’ doctrines
Thomas Jefferson ignored the will of the people and blamed others for his mistakes in an effort to avoid war
James Madison used deception to persuade congress and American citizens into entering a war against Britain
The War of 1812 established dangerous precedents regarding the omission of facts and the denigration of critics
James Polk deceived congress into launching the Mexican-American War so he could expand America’s territory
Abraham Lincoln suspended civil liberties and declared war without congressional approval, though he did so reluctantly
William McKinley initially showed restraint in declaring war against Spain, only to push for global expansion once it was underway
Woodrow Wilson deceived the public with his propaganda techniques, and restricted civil liberties with his espionage bill and sedition act
Franklin Roosevelt followed tradition by ignoring civil liberties but established a new precedent by authorizing the production of nuclear weapons
Harry Truman utilized the United Nations when declaring war on North Korea and reestablished a civilian-run military
Lyndon Johnson concealed the truth and persuaded Congress to establish a resolution that increased his executive power
Congress has allowed presidents to overexert their power, though it’s possible times are changing
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
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Presidents of War — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read Presidents of War book
- politicians
- history professors and students
- American history enthusiasts
- anyone interested in wartime or presidential history
About the author of Presidents of War
Michael Beschloss
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.
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