From the former secretary of defense, a strikingly candid, vivid account of serving Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. After working for six presidents in both the CIA and the National Security Council, Robert M. Gates was happily serving as president of Texas A&M University. But when he was asked to help a nation mired in two wars and to aid the troops doing the fighting, he answered what he felt was the call of duty.

Unabridged. Compact discs. Subtitle from container. Duration: 25:30:00. Includes an interview with the author.

Summoned to duty -- Iraq, Iraq and Iraq -- Mending fences, finding allies -- Waging war on the Pentagon -- Beyond Iraq: a complicated world -- Good war, bad war -- One damn thing after another -- Transition -- New term, new agenda, old secretary -- Afghanistan: a house divided -- Difficult foes, difficult friends -- Meanwhile, back in Washington -- War, war...and revolution -- At war to the last day -- Reflections.