Library Journal
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Beschloss (Presidential Courage), NBC's presidential historian, returns with his ninth book on the American presidency, this time investigating eight presidents who served during wartime and how they interpreted their constitutional authority. The author reveals James Madison, James Polk, Abraham Lincoln, William McKinley, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and Lyndon Johnson as strong leaders who expanded their command, often resulting in the loss of congressional support and public confidence. All of these presidents-George H.W. Bush and George Bush are not included because the author considers their terms too recent to be judged historically-are thoroughly and skillfully vetted with mixed results. The worst excesses include Polk's lying to ignite the 1848 Mexican War, Roosevelt's incarceration of Japanese Americans, and Johnson's politics that made the Vietnam War fought mostly by the poor and minorities. Notable examples of statesmanship include Lincoln's openness with Congress, Madison's support of civil liberties during the War of 1812, and McKinley's transforming the United States into a world power. VERDICT This spirited account, reminiscent of The Oxford History of the United States, will captivate history buffs and interest scholars of the institutional presidency and the Constitution. [See Prepub Alert, 4/9/18.]-Karl Helicher, formerly with Upper Merion Twp. Lib., King of Prussia, PA © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

The renowned historian explores America's wars through its presidents.In another masterful work of research, NBC News presidential historian Beschloss (Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America, 1789-1989, 2007, etc.) demonstrates his erudite grasp of the history of the executive branch. The Founders gave Congress the power to "declare" (not make) war; the executive has power only to repel attacks. The author begins with the War of 1812 and notes that it was the most unpopular war ever, including Vietnam. As Beschloss writes, "the 1812 conflict proved to be the first major test of this constitutional system for waging war. The Mexican-American War, under James Polk, began after the Thornton Affair in 1846, when American troops actually provoked an attack. That gave Polk the excuse to pursue Manifest Destiny and seize land all the way to the Pacific Ocean; he also expanded slavery. Again, this went against the Founders' wish to end the monarchical habit of waging war for secret reasons under false pretenses. In all American wars, opponents have been marginalized as unpatriotic, but Lincoln and the Civil War were different. He wouldn't ask Congress for a declaration of war because he would never accept the legality of secession. He did, however, wait patiently for the attack on Fort Sumter, and his extraordinary authority was affirmed by Congress and the courts. The Spanish-American War was triggered by the explosion of the Maine in Havana Harbor. While he didn't necessarily want Cuba, it gave President William McKinley the chance to annex Hawaii and, in a clear case of mission creep, the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico. On another tack, Woodrow Wilson did all he could to avoid war. Beschloss goes on to skillfully cover World War II and Vietnam. As he clearly shows throughout this illuminating narrative, during every war, the president has received extraordinary powers; some used it well, while others abused it.The author's highly readable style and ability to pinpoint the most relevant facts make this a perfect book for any student of American history and its presidents. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

The intensity of combat magnifies the strengths and weaknesses of individual soldiers, and the stress can also bring out unexpected, hidden reserves of courage, calm, and determination. This also pertains to the presidents who manage wars, as celebrated historian Beschloss illustrates. This is a massive but eminently readable effort to gauge the performance of eight presidents who waged major wars and one, Thomas Jefferson, who avoided a major conflict when one seemed likely. Beschloss avoids excessive attacks but clearly has his favorites. He asserts that Madison erred in pursuing an avoidable war with the British and failed to muster support from a divided population. Polk began the Mexican War with a strategy of supreme cynicism, turning a border skirmish into an act of war, then turning that into a war of expansion, leaving the nation embittered. Lincoln was initially tentative yet eventually became politically adept and wise enough to give Grant the support necessary to win the Civil War. Beschloss' fine survey, from the War of 1812 to Vietnam, reveals a great deal about each commander-in-chief.--Jay Freeman Copyright 2018 Booklist

Publishers Weekly
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Presidential historian Beschloss (Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America, 1789-1989) offers a sweeping history of American presidents seeking and waging war from the War of 1812-the first major conflict conducted by the executive office under the Constitution-through the conclusion of the Vietnam War. He provides insight into the motivations of American leaders; presidents' battles with other branches of government; their degree of respect for civil liberties; and the role of personality, emotion, and the general political climate as American commanders-in-chief executed the power of the country's military forces. Beschloss reviews the historical record from an American-expansionist yet not necessarily prowar perspective; he writes, for example, that President Polk "deserves credit for adding almost a million square miles to the United States," referring to the U.S. conquest of much of Mexico during the Mexican-American War, but that "a major, bloody war... should have been his last resort," in keeping with the founders' intentions. With ample detail and enticing storytelling, this readable work will be enjoyed by students and American history buffs. Agent: Esther Newberg, Curtis Brown. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.