Every American president, when faced with a crisis, longs to take bold and decisive action. When American lives or vital interests are at stake, the public – and especially the news media and political opponents – expect aggressive leadership. But, contrary to the dramatizations of Hollywood, rarely does a president have that option.
In Presidents in Crisis, a former director of the Situation Room takes the listener inside the White House during 17 grave international emergencies handled by the presidents from Truman to Obama: from North Korea’s invasion of South Korea to the revolutions of the Arab Spring, and from the 13 days of the Cuban Missile Crisis to the taking of American diplomats hostage in Iran and George W. Bush’s response to the attacks of September 11, 2001. In narratives that convey the drama of unfolding events and the stakes of confrontation when a misstep can mean catastrophe, he walks us step-by-step through each crisis. Laying out the key players and personalities and the moral and political calculations that the leaders have had to make, he provides a fascinating insider’s look at modern presidential decision making and the fundamental role in it of human frailty.
Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for those interested in history – books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times best seller or a national best seller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
A great book that stimulates thought in a country obsessed with the doctrine of sound bites Read and contemplate what you might do. It is easy to follow a party line and pump your fist to the beat of the latest sound bite from your favorite spinmeister. Agree or disagree with the decisions and politics of your government but resist the urge to armchair quarterback their decisions in the moment with information you do not possess. This book highlights well what goes into crisis decision making, cautioning us in our daily decisions by the example of those who must make decisions with…
It’s About Leadership In a presidential election year this study on the different leadership and management styles of past Presidents is valuable. This book is also a great summary of the history that shows where we are today in the world. Starting with Truman’s handling of North Korea in 1950 and going through crisis’s such as the Cuban Missile Crisis with Kennedy all the way through troubles in the Middle East that several Presidents have had to deal with the book encapsulates modern day history since the…
Crisis Management at the Highest Level This is a very insightful look at the very real limitations of Presidential power. Beginning with Truman and ending with Obama, the author illustrates how every American President, when faced with a crisis, longs to take bold and decisive action. When American lives or vital interests are at stake, the public, the news media and political opponents, expect aggressive, decisive leadership. But, in reality and contrary to the dramatizations of Hollywood, rarely does a president have that option…