Waging War: The Clash Between Presidents and Congress, 1776 to ISIS

Goldstein, author of Lessons in Disaster: McGeorge Bundy and the Path to War in Vietnam, Adjunct Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations)“Waging War, deeply researched with a compelling and exciting narrative, immerses readers in the struggles of presidents as commanders in chief, and Congress as they walk the Constitution's high wire over when and how to wage war. a political analysis about how far Congress has been prepared to push its interventions over the years and how defiant presidents have been willing to be. Barron’s argument — bolstered by a sure grasp of constitutional debates and the ongoing struggles pitting the executive

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. Congress ordered him not to, and he obeyed. 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.In this “vivid…rich and detailed history” (The New York Times Book Review), 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. 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. An “ambitiousdeep history and a thoughtful inquiry into how the constitutional system of checks and balances has functioned when it comes to waging war and making peace” (The Washington Post)—here is the full, compelling account of this never-ending debate.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. Donald Trump will face this challenge immediately—and the Constitution and its fragile sy

Good historical review of timely issue This was a good historical review of how the Presidents and Congress have struggle back and forth about the power over waging war since Washington and the Continental Congress. It is very timely, considering the lack of any Congressional leadership on this subject over the past decade. However, this is not for the casual reader. Even though it is written for a more genera. "Fascinating, scholarly yet accessible, account of war power struggles" according to Amazon Customer. A fascinating, and very engaging, account of the power struggles between Congress and the President over war powers from George Washington to today. One comes away with the realization that this is an issue that is far more complicated than it is often understood to be. And while the author is probably the most prominent scholar in the country on these issues, the book is. Barron's gift to understanding how we've managed wars Rags This is a terrific read, covering presidential and congressional struggles over managing our wars, declared and undeclared. Barron brings the reader into the struggle.

David Barron is a United States Circuit Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and former S. . He previously served as the Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Legal Counsel at the United States Department of Justice. He is coauthor, with Martin Lederman, of the article “The Commander in Chief at the Lowest Ebb” and the au