From James Madison to George W. Bush, many American presidents have faced the challenge of convincing Americans to support their decisions to go to war. What rhetorical techniques have they employed to make their case for combat? Which messages have been most effective--and which approaches have been most ethical?

Includes bibliographical references (p. 301-311) and index.

Presidential war rhetoric : an overview -- The War of 1812 (1812-1815) -- The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) -- The Civil War (1861-1865) -- The Spanish-American War (1898) -- World War I (1914-1918) -- World War II (1941-1945) -- The Korean War (1950-1953) -- The Vietnam War (1964-1973) -- The Persian Gulf War (1991) -- The War on Terror (2001-?) -- Conclusions.