Two Americans, William Lee Miller
Two Americans, William Lee Miller
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Two Americans
Truman, Eisenhower, and a Dangerous World

Author: William Lee Miller

Narrator: Dick Hill

Unabridged: 20 hr 8 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 04/30/2012


Synopsis

Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower, consecutive presidents of the United States, were midwesterners alike in many ways—except that they also sharply differed.  Born within six years of each other (Truman in 1884, Eisenhower in 1890), they came from small towns in the Missouri-Mississippi River Valley—in the midst of cows and wheat, pigs and corn, and grain elevators. Both were grandsons of farmers and sons of forceful mothers, and of fathers who knew failure; both were lower middle class, received public school educations, and were brought up in low-church Protestant denominations.
William Lee Miller interweaves Truman's and Eisenhower's life stories, which then also becomes the story of their nation as it rose to great power. They had contrasting experiences in the Great War—Truman, the haberdasher to be, led men in battle; Eisenhower, the supreme commander to be, did not. Between the wars, Truman was the quintessential politician, and Eisenhower the thoroughgoing anti-politician. Truman knew both the successes and woes of the public life, while Eisenhower was sequestered in the peacetime army. Then in the wartime 1940s, these two men were abruptly lifted above dozens of others to become leaders of the great national efforts.

Miller describes the hostile maneuvering and bickering at the moment in 1952–1953 when power was to be handed from one to the other and somebody had to decide which hat to wear and who greeted whom. As president, each coped with McCarthyism, the tormenting problems of race, and the great issues of the emerging Cold War. They brought the United States into a new pattern of world responsibility while being the first Americans to hold in their hands the awesome power of weapons capable of destroying civilization.

Listening to their story is a reminder of the modern American story, of ordinary men dealing with extraordinary power.

About William Lee Miller

William Lee Miller, Scholar in Ethics and Institutions at the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, has also taught at Yale University, Smith College, and Indiana University. He is a member of the board of the Abraham Lincoln Institute, of the Lincoln Studies Group, and of the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission's advisory committee. His previous books include Arguing About Slavery: John Quincy Adams and the Great Battle in the American Congress and Lincoln's Virtues: An Ethical Biography. He lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.


Reviews

Goodreads review by robin on September 02, 2024

Truman And Eisenhower Harry Truman (1884 --- 1972) served as the Democratic 33d president of the United States from 1945 -- 1953 while Dwight Eisenhower (1890 -- 1969) served as a Republican as the 34th president from 1953 -- 1961. Both leaders had many similarities and many differences. Both played......more

Goodreads review by Beth on February 24, 2013

This is a book well worth reading; however, it really needs a good edit. I learned so much about the two men and the times in which they lived. They were very different yet had so much in common. They were only six years different in age, and both contributed so much to this country! I hadn't realiz......more

Goodreads review by Jerry on November 07, 2014

TWO AMERICANS: TRUMAN, EISENHOWER, AND A DANGEROUS WORLD by William Lee Miller This very readable book has two purposes: it is a dual biography of our 33rd and 34th presidents, as well as an impressive feat of interpretation and analysis. Truman and Eisenhower were Middle Americans, we are reminded (T......more

Goodreads review by Doug on May 13, 2020

I was hoping to learn a lot about these two great presidents, but the story just didn't hold my interest. Lots of "facts" about their lives, and they were indeed incredible people. But the book just doesn't hold together or tell a story that keeps you interested.......more

Goodreads review by Mitch on October 22, 2019

I may be biased, but two of my favorite presidents to study who represent the Midwest! I enjoyed this book!......more