Eisenhower

Today our military commanders are as much politicians as they are military tacticians. Following the scandal stirred up by the recent sacking of General McChrystal it seems that a commander's ability to manipulate the political spectrum, whilst at the same time maintaining a strong, bold position in the eyes of the international media has never been so indispensible. Eisenhower was the first great politician–commander, and his ability to lead a diverse coalition of forces is pertinent in current conditions.

"Eisenhower".Dwight Eisenhower represented a fundamentally new type of modern military commander. Eisenhower was a manager commander, whose grasp of the politics and large-scale tactics of battle were uniquely suited to leading the huge coalition of forces that fought in Europe during the Second World War. Educated at West Point, Eisenhower rose to his position as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force through a series of powerful contacts and his natural aptitude for leadership and large scale tactical planning. This book analyses how Eisenhower's tactics and political astuteness helped him successfully lead the invasion of Europe, how he coaxed contradictory parties into supporting his policies and how he triumphed in his now infamous clash with Montgomery. Uniquely, the author goes on to describe how Eisenhower's military influence continued when he became President, as his leadership and vision were tested by the outbreak of the Cold War.