Item Detail Information

Book

Louis Johnson and the arming of America : the Roosevelt and Truman years

Copies

5 Total copies, 5 Copies are in, 0 Copies are out.

As FDR's Assistant Secretary of War, Louis Johnson was the architect of the industrial mobilization plans that put the nation on a war footing prior to its entry into World War II. Later, as Truman's Secretary of Defense, Johnson was given the difficult job of unifying the armed forces and carrying out Truman's orders to dramatically reduce defense expenditures. In both administrations, he was asked to confront and carry out extremely unpopular initiatives-massive undertakings that each president believed were vital to the nation's security and economic welfare. This book tells the story of Louis Johnson and his role in the Roosevelt and Truman administrations. It offers fresh insights into the core beliefs, political and leadership skills, and the strengths and weaknesses of two of America's chief executives. The battles Johnson waged in the service of these presidents-with the likes of Henry Morgenthau, Jr., Harry Woodring, Winston Churchill, Harry Hopkins, Dean Acheson, Averell Harriman, and Paul Nitze-find contemporary parallels in the disagreements within the Bush administration between the national defense establishment headed by Donald Rumsfeld and the internationalists, who were led by Colin Powell during his tenure as Secretary of State. Well written and persuasively argued, "Louis Johnson and the Arming of America" fills a gap in our understanding of American history of the mid-twentieth century.

Share It:

Availability Summary MARC Cover Image Additional Info

Summary Note

As FDR's Assistant Secretary of War, Louis Johnson was the architect of the industrial mobilization plans that put the nation on a war footing prior to its entry into World War II.  Later, as Truman's Secretary of Defense, Johnson was given the difficult job of unifying the armed forces and carrying out Truman's orders to dramatically reduce defense expenditures.  In both administrations, he was asked to confront and carry out extremely unpopular initiatives-massive undertakings that each president believed were vital to the nation's security and economic welfare.  This book tells the story of Louis Johnson and his role in the Roosevelt and Truman administrations.  It offers fresh insights into the core beliefs, political and leadership skills, and the strengths and weaknesses of two of America's chief executives. The battles Johnson waged in the service of these presidents-with the likes of Henry Morgenthau, Jr., Harry Woodring, Winston Churchill, Harry Hopkins, Dean Acheson, Averell Harriman, and Paul Nitze-find contemporary parallels in the disagreements within the Bush administration between the national defense establishment headed by Donald Rumsfeld and the internationalists, who were led by Colin Powell during his tenure as Secretary of State. Well written and persuasively argued, "Louis Johnson and the Arming of America" fills a gap in our understanding of American history of the mid-twentieth century.

Content Note

Bedford blood -- Foot in the door -- Like feuding schoolboys -- "Basic shift in mobilization planning" -- Understanding FDR -- Surviving FDR -- "But you promised me" -- Personal representative of the president -- Long shot pays off -- Inside the Pentagon -- Revolt of the admirals -- "Like a meatchopper on roundsteak" -- "My God, the Russians have the bomb" -- Entangling alliance -- "Till the dust settles" -- Last week in June -- "Give me two American divisions and I can hold Korea" -- Means of descent -- "Lou, I've got to ask you to quit" -- "Lest darkness come".