Review
."..its biographies and its essays on leadership deserve a place in larger academic and public libraries and in collections that concentrate on military history." -
Reference & User Services Quarterly
Book Description
This is a historical study of the relationship between civilian and military leaders in the United States during wartime, from the American Revolution to the Iraq War. President Harry S. Truman's 1951 firing of Douglas MacArthur ended the nation's most famous showdown between a commander in chief and a high-profile officer - but it was far from the only time a chief executive and a general clashed. American history has been shaped by the working relationships of military and civilian leaders - relationships that have ranged from cooperative to combative. Now from one of the world's leading publishers of military history comes a breakthrough reference on one of the most important and complex aspects of U.S. national defense. "U.S. Leadership in Wartime: Clashes, Controversy, and Compromise" offers a comprehensive analysis of the characteristics that constitute effective leadership in war and discusses the often contentious relationships between U.S. civilian and military leadership throughout American history. "U.S. Leadership in Wartime" focuses on ten conflicts, including the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Vietnam War, the Iraq War, and the war in Afghanistan. Coverage for each conflict focuses on the dynamics of civilian-military relations and their impact on the course, outcome, and perception of each war under discussion. Coverage in each chapter includes an overview essay, sidebars, and detailed treatments of key engagements and battles, as well as detailed biographical essays of important figures - not just politicians and generals, but also labor leaders, business leaders, journalists, and women. This title features: over 375 entries on key battles and individuals and 10 essays on individual wars; numerous illustrations and maps, including a map for most of the decisive battles, and an image of each noted individual; biographical essays of every significant civilian and military leader; easy-to-use index that covers all ten chapters, and all of the essays within each chapter; and, bibliographies at the end of each of the ten chapters that suggest possibilities for further readings on the subject.
