Waging war : the clash between presidents and Congress, 1776 to ISIS / David J. Barron.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Barron, David J., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. Congress--History.

United States.

United States. Congress.

History.

IS (Organization).

War and emergency powers--United States--History.

War and emergency powers.

Legislative power.

War, Declaration of.

War, Declaration of--United States--History.

Constitutional history--United States.

Constitutional history.

Presidents--United States--History.

Presidents.

Executive power--United States--History.

Executive power.

Legislative power--United States--History.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

xiv, 560 pages : illustrations, portraits ; 25 cm

Edition:

First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Simon & Schuster, 2016.

Summary:

"A timely account of a raging debate: The history of the ongoing struggle between the presidents and Congress over who has the power to declare and wage war. The Constitution states that it is Congress that declares war, but it is the presidents who have more often taken us to war and decided how to wage it. In Waging War, United States Circuit Judge for the United States Court of Appeals David Barron opens with an account of George Washington and the Continental Congress over Washington's plan to burn New York City before the British invasion. Congress ordered him not to, and he obeyed. Barron takes us through all the wars that followed: 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American war, World Wars One and Two, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and now, most spectacularly, the War on Terror. Congress has criticized George W. Bush for being too aggressive and Barack Obama for not being aggressive enough, but it avoids a vote on the matter. By recounting how our presidents have declared and waged wars, Barron shows that these executives have had to get their way without openly defying Congress. Waging War shows us our country's revered and colorful presidents at their most trying times--Washington, Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Johnson, both Bushes, and Obama. Their wars have made heroes of some and victims of others, but most have proved adept at getting their way over reluctant or hostile Congresses. The next president will face this challenge immediately--and the Constitution and its fragile system of checks and balances will once again be at the forefront of the national debate"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

The Revolutionary War

The founding

Quasi war

The good officer

The man on horseback

Antebellum

Confronting secession

The war comes

The war ends

Imperialism

The Great War

Preparing for World War II

Total war

Korea and absolute war powers

War in Indochina and congressional resurgence

The imperial presidency and the end of the President's war

The new normal

Post-Cold War

The global war on terrorism

Iraq.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 431-535) and index.

ISBN:

9781451681970

1451681976

9781451681987

1451681984

OCLC:

944380362