In 1938 he was a lieutenant colonel stationed in the Philippines; by
1945 the world proclaimed him its savior. From leading the forces of liberal democracy
against history’s most evil tyrant to the presidency, Dwight D. Eisenhower
fought for and kept the peace during the most dangerous era in history.
The Eisenhower Chronicles dramatizes Ike’s life, portraying his epic
journey from unknown soldier to global hero as only a novel could. He is shown
working with icons such as FDR, Winston Churchill, and Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr., and confronting challenges like D-Day, the Little Rock Crisis, and
Sputnik.
Eisenhower’s legacy is grounded in defending the world from fascism,
communism, and nuclear weapons. This novel shows how he accomplished it all and
takes readers into his mind and soul, grounding the history in the man who made
it.
Advance
Praise:
“An
ambitious novel that illuminates the complexity of one of the great figures of the
twentieth century. Ike's homespun manner concealed a remarkably skilled, at
times Machiavellian, leader who guided the nation through perilous times. M.B.
Zucker brings us inside Eisenhower's world as he wrestles with a series of
decisions affecting the survival of free government and the fate of humanity.
This is a fun, fast-paced, informative read that captures the man and his
times. Highly recommended.”
-Stephen
F. Knott, Professor of National Security at the Naval War College and author
of Washington and Hamilton: The Alliance that Forged America
“A most
important aspect of M. B. Zucker's The Eisenhower Chronicles is
that it dispels at least two myths about Ike's presidency: that it was but an
appendage to his illustrious military career; and, that Eisenhower was more
prone to react to events rather than shape them. In a lively and innovative
style, Zucker shows his readers how Ike managed the Cold War during its most
dangerous period and helped make his country a more fair and just society at home.
A must read for anyone interested in mid-20th century America.”
-Alvin S.
Felzenberg, presidential historian and author of The Leaders We
Deserved and a Few We Didn't
“Zucker's
achievement is monumental. In a fast-paced narrative, he captures Dwight D.
Eisenhower with mastery and precision-his thoughts, emotions, decisions, and
actions. The smooth prose and rich detail put the reader right there with Ike
at every step of his military career and presidency, with an accurate and
compelling rendering. This is historical fiction at its best.”
-Yanek
Mieczkowski, presidential historian and author of Eisenhower's Sputnik
Moment: The Race for Space and World Prestige
“This is
a vast and minutely detailed account of Eisenhower as both supreme Warlord and
President of the United States at a time of truly massive transformation.It is
magisterial in its informed account and sweeping in its scope. It is a
panoramic study, intensively researched, of Eisenhower as both a private person
and a world figure.... Five stars and highly recommended.”
- The
Historical Fiction Company Editorial Reviews
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Excerpt
Ike visits the 101st
Airborne the night before D-Day in the most famous moment of his life. This
story is told in the first person to make it more intimate.
I clasped my hands
behind my back and walked toward the jumpers, saying nothing to Kay or Bedell.
As I approached the warriors I noticed that many of them had painted their
faces black. That served two purposes. It helped to camouflage them at night
when they would meet the enemy and helped them feel brave. Some jumpers on the
outer rim of the group glanced at me, then looked again to confirm the sight.
They stood at attention.
“Hey, it’s Ike!” one
shouted.
“Look, the Supreme
Commander’s here to see us off!”
“Holy cow, Ike’s here!”
Soon dozens, if not
hundreds, of jumpers excitedly ran toward me, encircling me in a large group.
I’ve never seen so many excited faces. I can’t think of a more humbling
experience. These men were the real heroes. They were about to risk their lives
to defeat a racist monster. Yet they were excited to see me, who couldn’t compare to their
bravery and duty.
“At ease! Come on!” I
exclaimed. “Gather around!” I glanced at the crowd, looking as many jumpers in
the eye as I could. “Smoke if you got ‘em, jumpers!”
They laughed; many
pulled out cigarettes and lighters. I decided it was finally time for me to
enjoy one too. I pulled out my cigarette, only to realize I’d left my lighter
in the car!
“Anyone got a light?” I
asked. They laughed again.
“Here ya go, Ike!” one
exclaimed with a thick southern accent. He lit my cigarette and I thanked him.
“You men ready to get
the ball through their endzone?” I asked. That lit up their faces. They loved
that their general spoke the way they did.
“You ever play ball,
Ike?” one asked.
“I did at West Point!”
I answered.
“You any good?”
“I nearly tackled Jim
Thorpe!”
That led to some “ohs!”
from the group.
“Nearly?” another
jumper asked.
“Yup,” I replied to
some laughs.
“Your team win?”
“Not exactly.” More
laughs. I turned to the jumper closer to me.
“Where you from,
Corporal?”
“Brooklyn.”
“Brooklyn, huh? You a
Yankees fan?”
“That’s right!”
Dozens of jumpers
groaned. I joined them. I asked a few others. A handful of states were
mentioned. New Jersey. Arizona. California. Ohio. Virginia. I wanted to find
one from Kansas, preferably Abilene. That would have been a hoot!
“Anyone from Kansas?” I
asked after I gave up on trying to be lucky. No one responded beyond a few shaking
their heads ‘no.’
“That’s a shame,” I
said. “I’m going to need a job after we’ve hit Berlin!”
Some jumpers cheered.
“Don’t worry, General,”
one said. “You can work at my ranch in Dallas!”
I smiled and nodded,
pretending to consider the option. He continued.
“If I’m not there after
the war you can ask my Pa. He’ll give you a job.”
I frowned. That burst
the comradery, if for a moment. The reminder of coming death. For them and not
for me. I toured several other groups of jumpers over the next hour or so
before they took off. No other war in history so definitely lined up the forces
of arbitrary oppression and dictatorship on the one hand against those of human
rights and individual liberty. And they were the best of our side. They were plunging
into the most vicious warfare imaginable, not only for America and Europe, but
so the whole world could live in freedom and peace. They had no options of
retreat. They had to succeed or die. I felt like a father to those young men
when I was among them. But what kind of father sends his boys to kill and die?
And they had real fathers waiting at home, anxious that their sons would return
in one piece. And I took them away. No, I didn’t. Hitler did, by trying to rule
the world. How can one man be so selfish? He was the ultimate example of
narcissism. And those jumpers were the ultimate example of duty. I couldn’t be
prouder of them.
“How about you?” I
asked another jumper.
“What about me,
General?”
“Where are you from?”
“Michigan.”
“Michigan,” I repeated.
“How’s the fishing up there?”
“It’s great, sir.”
“Michigan’s a beautiful
state. I’ve been fishing up there several times.”
I made a demonstration
of my preferred fly fishing technique. That led to a brief discussion on the
topic. I became solemn again.
“Are you scared?” I
asked the Michigander.
“No, sir!” he declared.
“Well, I am. Many of
you boys ain’t coming back.”
“We’re well briefed,
sir. We’re ready.”
I smiled.
“We’re going to achieve
full victory and nothing less. I can’t stress enough upon you all the historic
magnitude of this undertaking. Your service will save the world.”
That led to more
nodding—more determination of spirit!
My eyes filled as the
last planes flew beyond my ability to see them a short time later. I wiped the
tears with my sleeve and slowly made my way to the car.
“Well, it’s on,” I said
to Kay. She said nothing. “It’s very hard to look a man in the eye when you
fear you are sending him to his death.”
I sat in the car.
“I hope to God I know
what I’m doing.”
M. B. Zucker
M. B. Zucker has been interested in storytelling for as long as he can
remember. He discovered his love of history at fifteen and studied Dwight
Eisenhower for over ten years. Mr. Zucker earned his B.A. at Occidental College
and his J.D. at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He lives in
Virginia with his wife.
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