Decision-Making in the White House: The Olive Branch or the Arrows (Columbia Classics

by Theodore C. Sorensen

Faced with divided advisers, limited options, contradictory evidence, and the profound global consequences of their choices, how do presidents reach a decision in a time of crisis? As a speechwriter and close adviser to John F. Kennedy, Ted Sorensen, whom the New York Times referred to as Kennedy's "brilliant alter ego," drafted many of the president's key public statements and was a participant in some of the toughest decisions made by an American president. In the shadow of potential nuclear war, John F. Kennedy had to weigh, with extreme, sometimes excruciating delicacy, his options as he responded to the Cuban Missile Crisis, the construction of the Berlin Wall, and other domestic and foreign crises. In these famous lectures, Sorensen draws on his firsthand experiences in the Kennedy White House to analyze the political and personal dimensions of presidential decision-making and the necessary attributes of an effective leader. In particular, Sorensen emphasizes knowing and remaining open to all options; the need to make an informed, prudent, and resolute choice; the importance of avoiding any appearance of deception; and the necessity of understanding decisions made by past presidents and recognizing the limitations of presidential power.

This edition includes a new preface by the author, comparing the very different decision-making styles of George W. Bush and John F. Kennedy. Sorensen argues that Bush's failure to seek support from the international community, explore all his options, and fully investigate the facts presented to him have contributed to U.S. difficulties in Iraq. In light of the findings of the 9/11 Commission and the numerous accounts of George W. Bush's decision to go to war in Iraq, Sorensen's observations offer timely insights and analysis as the United States and the American president confront a new set of challenges.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 1963

About the author

Theodore Chaiken "Ted" Sorensen was best known as President John F. Kennedy's special counsel, advisor, and speechwriter.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful book is one of my treasures. It was given to me by the author on Nov. 11, 1963.
I was looking at colleges in the Washington, D.C. area with my mother, and we were staying at the Woman's National Democratic Club in Washington. I met Ted Sorensen the morning of a talk he was to give at the club, and he and I struck up a conversation. I think he was interested that a high school student was there at all, as it was mostly very active Democratic women from the D.C. area.
Anyway, my mother and I wound up going to the Veteran's Day ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery in a small group with him, and we talked a bit more, after which he kindly gave me an inscribed copy of his new book. That day we sat with Sorensen in the front row on one side while President Kennedy, accompanied by his son John, Jr., laid the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It was such an amazing and unexpected experience for a 17 year old girl from Chicago. Of course we had no idea that the President would be dead 11 days later.
I have been thinking lately about decisions made in the White House, and regardless of historical time or political party, the things Ted Sorensen expressed in this book, at the talk he gave that Nov. day and in chatting with us privately, seem to me a reasonable approach to the important decisions made by any leader of our Democracy. I always thought some version of this process was something we could more or less count on from a President.

[Haelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10, pretty short but interesting book. Seeing how much decision making in the White House differs from normal decision making was pretty cool to read about, but this definitely wasn’t the most fun thing to do over the weekend.

The theme of this book is choosing what is most important at the time with the information you currently have; it’s literally in the title (the olive branch or the arrows, meaning to choose peace or war). This is probably the biggest difference there is between normal decision making and decision making in the White House, considering the choices YOU make are probably not going to start a war anytime soon. However, you can still use the stuff taught in the book in your everyday life, especially when you have to make quick decisions with limited access to information. Decent book, would probably recommend to anyone interested enough.

[Drury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book, at first I couldn't believe that the foreword was written by JFK in 1963. Can you imagine any recent president writing the foreword to a book while still in office?

Also, writing a quite frank book about the decision-making process in the White House, during the current administration.

Overall, this book was concisely written and paints a good picture of the many considerations that go into formulating policy.