The relationship between military leaders and political leaders has always been a complicated one, especially in times of war. When the chips are down, who should run the show - the politicians or the generals? In [this book, the author] examines four great democratic war statesmen - Abraham Lincoln, Georges Clemenceau, Winston Churchill, and David Ben-Gurion - to reveal [his] surprising answer: the politicians. Great statesmen, [contends the author], do not turn their wars over to their generals, and then stay out of the way. Great statesmen make better generals than generals. They question and drive their military men, and at key times they overrule their advice.-Dust jacket.

Unabridged. Compact disc. U.S. Army Chief of Staff's Professional reading list, 2017. USMC Commandant's Professional Reading List 2021 -- CWO5, COL, GEN.

Soldier and the statesman -- Lincoln sends a letter -- Clemenceau pays a visit -- Churchill asks a question -- Ben-Gurion holds a seminar -- Leadership without genius -- Unequal dialogue -- Theory of civilian control.