Ike's Bluff

President Eisenhower's Secret Battle to Save the World

By: Evan Thomas

Narrated by: Brian Troxell

Upon assuming the presidency in 1953, Dwight Eisenhower came to be seen by many as a doddering lightweight. Yet behind the bland smile and apparent simplemindedness was a brilliant, intellectual tactician. As Evan Thomas reveals in his provocative examination of Ike's White House years, Eisenhower was a master of calculated duplicity. As with his bridge and poker games he was eventually forced to stop playing after leaving too many fellow army officers insolvent, Ike could be patient and ruthless in the con, and generous and expedient in his partnerships. Facing the Soviet Union, China, and his own generals, some of whom believed a first strike was the only means of survival, Eisenhower would make his boldest and riskiest bet yet, one of such enormity that there could be but two outcomes: the survival of the world, or its end.

This is the story of how he won.

©2012 Evan Thomas (P)2012 Hachette Audio

A view of Ike after WW II

The book is well written by Evan Thomas. Brian Troxell is an excellent narrator. This book was a good review of President Eisenhower apart from General Eisenhower. Ike was a very good tactician and carried that into the White House. Ike's greatest threat came from the Soviet Union. Ike dealt with Nikita Khrushchev as the SovietLeader the biggest issue was nuclear weapons. Ike bluffed that he would use nukes if needed. There were many issues including interstate highways. Ike is the reason we have them. He was dismayed to discover the interstates went through major cities. He thought it defeated the purpose of having them as a means of transportation quickly and that proved to be prophetic. All in all, this is a very good book. Pick it up and learn more about Ike the President.

Great Biography, Great historical perspective

Would you listen to Ike's Bluff again? Why?

As we finally are moving beyond the world that Ike built, it's fascinating to read about this pivitol character in it's creation. Excellent narrative, important behind the scenes information exposed, told well.

This was...exceptional!

Much has been said about Ike as a "do nothing" president, but he did so much more than he is given credit for because the work he did was not glamorous. Evan Thomas dis a fantastic job of showing just how much Eisenhower's foriegn policy really made the difference in a way that only Eisenhower could deliver it. I recommend this book for a look at Ike's foreign policy and "A Matter of Justice" for his civil rights policies in action. These books were written by different authors that noted the same depth of character that Ike drew from to get things done. It proved to be an interesting correlation. Get this book!

Absolutely loved it

Very well done, informational, and completely worth the time listening to. I highly recommend it

Steadfast Leadership

I loved this book. I was a young girl when Eisenhower was President with my only memories of him being boring and old. This book was a revelation of continuous threats to our democracy, his firm grasp on the horrors of war and determination to protect the country he loved. I loved every minute as I literally painted my house with Ike. Loved it!!

Way More than a Beaming Smile

"Ike's Bluff" forcefully makes the case for the depth, intelligence, fortitude and courage of President Eisenhower. Often underrated for his relaxed smile and his love of golf, Eisenhower is shown to be a canny cold warrior, ensuring a degree of international peace through the "bluff" that the US was prepared to use nuclear weapons to stop Russian expansion. The portrait is balanced, showing Ike as a supporter of CIA-sponsored coups and assassinations of Communist-leaning foreign leaders but an opponent (or skeptical supporter) of some of the defense establishment's other misguided strategies--especially those that increased the likelihood of nuclear war. The section on the downing of the U-2 spy plane over Russia and Khruschev's response is compelling. There are excellent portraits of many military and CIA leaders, often shown as barely controllable actors, as well as intriguing figures like his wife Mamie, his doctor and his secretary.

Ike was an excellent card player at the table of international diplomacy. His poker skills (he gave up playing as a soldier after repeatedly cleaning out his buddies) and his bridge skills taught him strategic skills, anticipating the plays of others and knowing when to bluff.

The book focuses too on Eisenhower as a vulnerable aging man, worried about his deteriorating health, popping pills to help himself sleep. The author doesn't hold back from reports on Ike's bowel movements, his cuddling in bed with his wife and even his Metrecal for lunch. Overall, the reader gains great respect for Eisenhower, who served the country faithfully and with deep personal sacrifice. And at the end, Ike is praised for identifying the risks of the military-industrial complex, a term he originated to express his dismay at the constant pressures to increase the arms race.

The narration was serviceable and easy to listen to, although some names were mispronounced.

The man

I heard things I never new The writing was deep and interesting. You can tell that Ike was a military man who new how to bluff

Excellent

Another great book by Evan Thomas. Ike has long been an underrated President and this brings his understated style & effectiveness to light.

A New View

Historic inquiry can be a touchy subject when opinion/agenda enter the “fact trail.” Well researched with personal anecdote for realism and humanity, this book sheds light on a subject heretofore misinterpreted by many who thought DDE was no longer up to the challenge of public life as POTUS based on what they knew or assumed. Thank you for the new view. I’m sure there will be others as more docs become available.

President Eisenhower and the World

Evan Thomas has given us a superb account of the Eisenhower presidency's foreign policy in a decade when a nuclear catastrophe was a very real and present danger.