The Presidents Club
by Nancy Gibbs & Michael Duffy is about second chances for our former
presidents and about recycling former presidents’ skills and connections.
Herbert Hoover, one who really needed a second chance was the first member of
this exclusive club for Harry S Truman. This book chronicles the Modern Club
starting with Truman as President and Hoover as the first Modern Day member. Of
course George Washington was the first member for President Adams. Lincoln had
access to six because of all the one-term presidents. Only Washington and
Nixon, upon his second reelection had none. Clinton had five. It is admirable
how these former foes became great friends and advocates for the sitting
president.
Herbert Hoover became the first weapon used by a sitting
president, Harry Truman, in the Cold War. Hoover, who had been responsible for
feeding Europe after WWI for President Wilson, now became that food czar for
Truman. It was important for America to take the lead in feeding Europe as well
as Africa, India, and Japan after the war instead of the Soviet Union. Hoover
had experience in the logistics and his exile since Roosevelt became president
marked a modern new world for the White House.
Ironically Eisenhower was an aide to Truman before Ike
became President. Then Ike, the only modern president who had more experience
to be president than any successor never used the Presidents Club as others
would. He did command the European theater in WWII. In fact Ike and Truman
separated company until after JFK’s funeral. It’s interesting how Ike behaved
as president as opposed to as a general. Then I recall how MacArthur behaved
and was dismissed. Truman had his hands full with these egomaniacs. As I look
back on history, it is too common the same pattern of a war hero botching it up
in a civilian position of power. It is good Ike was our last major war leader
to become president and it should serve us notice never to elect another one
again. Consider the current state of chaos in our military today. Generals make
bad presidents because military command is the other side of the coin to
civilian leadership.
Enter JFK and a brave new world that goes awry because of
the Bay of Pigs. This entire episode is one disaster after another and the
shocking detail that many supported a shadow government run by Ike provides
fuel for any assassination conspiracy. It is stunning that we have not had a
coup in this country and methinks this one episode may have been one of those
times we were the closest. Inherited problems by one administration to the next
are a constant theme for all presidents. Perhaps this is why a Presidents Club
is so important and also ripe with danger so a predecessor can maintain some
power into the next.
A quote from then NSC Advisor Bundy addresses important
issues that plague any new president and one particular matter of this
president, “Bundy invoked his predecessors, with the clear suggestion that
maybe Kennedy could learn something from the old guys. ‘Truman and Eisenhower
did their daily dozens in foreign affairs the first thing in the morning,’ he
noted, ‘and a couple of weeks ago you asked me to begin to meet with you on
this basis. I have succeeded in catching you on three mornings, for a total of
about eight minutes, and I conclude that this is not really how you like to
begin the day.’” Leadership we learn requires discipline and assistance from
others and JFK had a haphazard meeting policy. He hated meetings and instead
met with advisors one on one. Building on the past is how the present is formed
and the future planned. In addition, we now know more about JFK and no these
morning meetings were not how he liked to start his day. He preferred to be
briefless and not with Jackie.
The conflicts between JFK and Khrushchev remind me of Obama
and Putin. Khrushchev built the Berlin Wall. Perhaps Putin will build a Crimean
Wall. Also Putin seems to be bullying Obama the way Khrushchev bullied JFK,
till The Cuban Missile Crisis. Will history repeat itself?
Johnson started out well, had support and used Ike and
Truman well to help with international agenda at expense of domestic agenda.
Vietnam was his Waterloo.
Nixon and Reagan had been friends since 1947 since both in
California and from Midwest. Their political lives intermingled for decades
with Nixon always being the lesser of the two in terms of popularity, whereas
Nixon was the shrewder politician. The battle for 1968 is intense, cagey, and exciting. This is
filled with a huge ‘What if.’ Nixon back channels the peace talks just as
Reagan will with Iran during battle with Carter. It was politics as usual for
Nixon as he continues politicking in his usual underhand devious way. One of
the last things LBJ said to Nixon as he turned over the keys to the car were, “I
will warn you now, the leaks can kill you.” Nixon was alone in 1972 after Ike,
Truman, and LBJ al died in quick succession. And what a mess of things he made
of it.
With the election of Reagan, the Club now had three members.
Nixon emerged again and as he constantly sought redemption, his membership was
useful, while Ford and Carter with Reagan as their common foe became fast
friends and formed an unlikely union that lasted for twenty years. Nixon became
a very powerful ally to Reagan and Bush I. His political insights were never
wrong and he was helpful to both men in winning the WH. What is most scary is
how Nixon’s predictions about things is right.
The events of the 41, 42, and 43 are still unfolding as 44
sits in the WH. What an insider’s read and story.