The Eisenhower Chronicles
By M. B. Zucker
By M. B. Zucker
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
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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