Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America 1789-1989

An American president has a unique problem. He not only makes decisions for his own country, but he also decides on most of the global problems,too. On many occasions, American presidents have made decisions that have proven to have stronger impact than decision made by, say, even United Nations. Mr. Bechloss tells us the stories of dramatic courage our past Presidents had when they made some of the very tough and important decisions that has not only changed America but also the rest of the world. This is a fascinating book that enlightens the readers about what goes through a leaders mind when certain critical decisions are made. Although the book may serve as an "eye opener" and a "text book" for our future political leaders, it may also prove to be an excellent resource for "anyone" who is in a critical decision making role. In my opinion, this book may be an invaluable reference for even our business leaders and CEOs. The inspiring stories are so well written that it makes you feel better and amaze at certain events that have changed the world. You will realize that those great leaders who made those tough decisions are after all human beings like you and me with emotions, faith and families. N.Sivakumar Author of: America Misunderstood: What a Second Bush Victory Meant to the Rest of the World

This is a story that I could not stop reading. Mr. Bechloss tells the story of how what he calls "Presidential Courage" changed the United States of America. By this he means 9 presidents who made difficult decisions that we American citizens needed to have, but they were decisions that could have wrecked the lives of those presidents with defeat or even assassination (Lincoln is an example of the latter). Bechloss tells the galluping tale of George Washington (who stopped a war by England with an unpopular treaty), John Adams (who stopped a war with France), Andy Jackson (who stopped the Bank of the United States), Abraham Lincoln (who freed the slaves although he thought it might make him lose to his opponent in 1864, Genl. MacClellan), Teddy Roosevelt (who stoppped J. Pierpont Morgan and Wall Street businessmen), Franklin D. Roosevelt (who was trying to tell American citizens to defend against Hitler although they were worried that he would push them into World War II), Harry Truman and starting Israel (his Secretary of State wanted to quit--Bechloss could also have written about bringing civil rights to the U.S. Army), John F. Kennedy and civil rights (altho the Southern states were against it and he was worried about his election in 1964)and then Ronald Reagan and ending the Cold War (which I liked even though I am a Democrat because Democrats helped him to do this more than many Republicans did). The book is a little bit like that old TV show "You Are There" because it makes you feel as if youy're right there with all these presidents as they're doing these dramatic and important acts. It will give you the idea of what it is like to really be President. There are also great color pictures too.

For anyone who thinks that the stories of past presidents in history show anything about what we should look for when we're thinking about candidates in a presidential election, this book will be the right one for you to read. It shows presidents who made blistering decisions and gives us an idea of the kind of virtues we should look for as we're voting next year, like conviction, wisdom and bravery. It also gives the idea that a president will be more likely to be a good president if he or she is not just a professional politician forever -- i.e., someone who has another career to go back to if she or he needs to or other things like a spouse or children or other interests. The tales are colorful and tell a lot about their personalities, although I wish the book went on a little longer becayse I like really long history books, like David McCullough's John Adams biography. I liked the story of Lincoln the best -- I have never been to the new cottage of his opening in Washington but I want to go.

Michael Bescholss has become one of our most visible historians, in part through his willingness to appear on both public tv and venues like the late lamented Imus in the Morning. None of these appearances would matter if he didn't have anything of value to say. Of course the reason he is invited to appear is that he not only has something to say, but it is insightful and beautifully written. In this book he deals with several crisis periods in presidential history. He tells the story clearly and then incisively draws meaning for the larger American Story. Whether it is Washington's struggle over the Jay Treaty, Adams balancing the place of England and France in American life or FDR supporting England when public opinionwas decidedly isolationist, Beschloss helps us understand our own story. He places a great deal of emphasis on courage, yet makes it clear that courage is different from stubbornness or going it alone. Courage involves wisdom, a moral compass and can only be differentiated for stubborness with the gift of time-perhaps a wise thing for people on both sides of our current political landscape to remember I strongly recommend this book. It is an excellent addition to the study of the presidiency and an excellent discussion of leadership for both the public and private sector.