false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173669641m/312908.jpg 312908 2 <div><div>This is a story of ever-expanding presidential powers in an age of unwinnable wars. Harry Truman and Korea, Lyndon Johnson and Vietnam, George W. Bush and Iraq: three presidents, three ever broader interpretations of the commander in chief clause of the Constitution, three unwinnable wars, and three presidential secrets. Award-winning presidential biographer and military historian Geoffrey Perret places these men and events in the larger context of the post-World War II world to establish their collective legacy: a presidency so powerful it undermines the checks and balances built into the Constitution, thereby creating a permanent threat to the Constitution itself.<br> <br>In choosing to fight in Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq, Truman, Johnson, and Bush alike took counsel of their fears, ignored the advice of the professional military and major allies, and were influenced by facts kept from public view. Convinced that an ever-more powerful commander in chief was the key to victory, they misread the moment. Since World War II wars have become tests of stamina rather than strength, and more likely than not they sow the seeds of future wars. Yet recent American presidents have chosen to place their country in the forefront of fighting them. In the course of doing so, however, they gave away the secret of American power&#8212;for all its might, the United States can be defeated by chaos and anarchy.</div></div> 303809 2007 Commander in Chief: How Truman, Johnson, and Bush Turned a Presidential Power into a Threat to America's Future total:4|3:4| 4 12 10 0 0 0 false false Wed Nov 25 09:13:09 -0800 2009 Wed Nov 25 13:26:15 -0800 2009 3 0 false false Sat Apr 25 07:43:07 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 08 09:57:52 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Fri Aug 22 08:22:48 -0700 2008 Fri Aug 22 08:22:48 -0700 2008 3 0 false false Sun Aug 17 12:35:03 -0700 2008 Sun Aug 17 12:35:08 -0700 2008 3 0 false false Thu Aug 07 06:00:45 -0700 2008 Thu Aug 07 06:00:58 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Wed Jul 30 12:13:48 -0700 2008 Wed Jul 30 12:13:48 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Sat Oct 20 20:56:06 -0700 2007 Sat Oct 20 20:56:20 -0700 2007 3 0 false false Wed Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Mon Aug 20 16:15:00 -0700 2007 Wed Mar 19 14:07:37 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Mon May 28 21:00:16 -0700 2007 Mon May 28 21:00:23 -0700 2007 0 0 false false Mon Oct 15 09:50:47 -0700 2007 Fri Mar 23 20:30:46 -0700 2007 Fri Mar 23 20:30:51 -0700 2007 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=312908