Commander in Chief: FDR's Battle with Churchill, 1943 (2) (FDR at War)

From Nigel Hamilton's acclaimed World War II saga, the astonishing story of FDR's yearlong, defining battle with Churchill in 1943, as the war raged in Africa and Italy.1943 was the year of Allied military counteroffensives, beating back the forces of the Axis powers in North Africa and the Pacific—the “Hinge of Fate,” as Winston Churchill called it. In Commander in Chief, Nigel Hamilton reveals FDR's true role in this saga: overruling his own Joint Chiefs of Staff, ordering American airmen on an ambush of the Japanese navy's Admiral Yamamoto, facing down Churchill when he attempted to abandon Allied D-day strategy (twice). This FDR is profoundly different from the one Churchill later painted. President Roosevelt's patience was tested to the limit quelling the prime minister's “revolt,” as Churchill pressured Congress and senior American leaders to focus Allied energy on disastrous fighting in Italy and the Aegean instead of landings in Normandy. Finally, in a dramatic showdown at Hyde Park, FDR had to stop Churchill from losing the war by making the ultimate threat, setting the Allies on their course to final victory. In Commander in Chief, Hamilton masterfully chronicles the clash of nations—and of two titanic personalities—at a crucial moment in modern history. Part I. A secret journey -- A crazy idea -- Aboard the magic carpet -- Part II. Total war -- The United Nations -- What next? -- Stalin's nyet -- Addressing Congress -- A fool's paradise -- Facing the Joint Chiefs of Staff -- Part III. Casablanca -- The house of happiness -- Hot water -- A wonderful picture -- In the president's boudoir -- Part IV. Unconditional surrender -- Stimson is aghast -- De Gaulle -- An acerbic interview -- The unconditional surrender meeting -- Part V: Kasserine -- Kasserine -- Arch-admirals and arch-generals -- Between two forces of evil -- Health issues -- Part VI. Get Yamamoto! -- Inspection tour two -- Get Yamamoto! -- "He's dead?" -- Part VII. Beware Greeks bearing gifts -- Saga of the Niebelungs -- A scene from The Arabian Nights -- The God Neptune -- A battle royal -- No major operations until 1945 or 1946 -- Part VIII. The Riot Act -- The Davies Mission -- A dozen Dieppes in a day -- The future of the world at stake -- The president loses patience -- Part IX. The first crack in the Axis -- Sicily-- and Kursk -- The Führer flies to Italy -- Countercrisis -- A fishing expedition in Ontario -- The president's judgment -- Part X. Conundrum -- Stalin lies -- War on two western fronts -- The Führer is very optimistic -- A cardinal moment -- Churchill is stunned -- Part XI. Quebec 1943 -- The German will to fight -- Near-homicidal negotiations -- A longing in the air -- The president is upset--with the Russians -- Part XII. The endgame -- Close to disaster -- A Darwinian struggle -- A talk with Archbishop Spellman -- The empires of the future -- A tragicomedy of errors -- Meeting reality -- A message to Congress -- Achieving wonders "Nigel Hamilton's Mantle of Command drew on years of archival research and interviews to portray FDR in a tight close up, as he determined Allied strategy in the crucial initial phases of World War II. Commander in Chief reveals the astonishing sequel--suppressed by Winston Churchill in his memoirs--of Roosevelt's battles with Churchill to maintain that strategy. Roosevelt knew that the Allies should take Sicily but avoid a wider battle in southern Europe, building experience but saving strength to invade France in early 1944. Churchill seemed to agree at Casablanca--only to undermine his own generals and the Allied command, testing Roosevelt's patience to the limit. Churchill was afraid of the invasion planned for Normandy, and pushed instead for disastrous fighting in Italy, thereby almost losing the war for the Allies. In a dramatic showdown, FDR finally set the ultimate course for victory by making the ultimate threat. Commander in Chief shows FDR in top form at a crucial time in the modern history of the West."-- Publisher description. In the next installment of the "splendid memoir Roosevelt didn't get to write" ( New York Times ), Nigel Hamilton tells the astonishing story of FDR's year-long, defining battle with Churchill, as the war raged in Africa and Italy. Nigel Hamilton's Mantle of Command, long-listed for the National Book Award, drew on years of archival research and interviews to portray FDR in a tight close up, as he determined Allied strategy in the crucial initial phases of World War II. Commander in Chief reveals the astonishing sequel — suppressed by Winston Churchill in his memoirs — of Roosevelt's battles with Churchill to maintain that strategy. Roosevelt knew that the Allies should take Sicily but avoid a wider battle in southern Europe, building experience but saving strength to invade France in early 1944. Churchill seemed to agree at Casablanca — only to undermine his own generals and the Allied command, testing Roosevelt's...