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What President Obama can learn from Eisenhower

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    How the five-star general ran his office

  • Duration 3:04
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Mother -- President Obama one of the few American -- with actually no military experience if he had spent time in the service we actually do things differently.

For past president like for past presence like Dwight.

Presence Evan Thomas is the author of a great book called I spikes -- president -- secret battle to save the world.

Now -- I read the book.

And I think it was a book that is things aren't as they appear.

He looked amiable played out the -- liked to golf did little he was ends on extremely confident did a lot correct.

Yeah I mean we think you're like as being the sort of sleepy old I've played golf.

Not at all -- he was tough he was shrewd he could be you need to be devious when he actually had to be.

He was a hands on guy but he worked behind the scenes.

Was not -- -- out front he operated by kind of hidden hand presidency did not resent working with congress did not hesitate to take on his party.

Now he -- in the -- in love the Republican majority leader who we thought was not the brightest guy in the world he was going to work with Democrats -- -- Democrats with LBJ -- -- He worked both sides of the aisle he liked to get things done you know coming -- -- military activity -- going to be a Democrat or Republican.

Now can you compare to today's present for example you know the challenge this president has.

What do you think the president could learn by picking up a book and -- reading your book for example.

Well a couple of things these are different men and their.

-- times but Obama can -- all cocky.

A little people -- sometimes.

That was not lifestyle -- was extremely confident.

Extremely confident we have the confidence.

To be humble.

He knew when to be modest you'd like to show off like the of credit to others those are very valuable leadership lessons.

And if if Obama as he does want to cut the defense budget he did look a little bit to Ike Ike is little known fact.

President Eisenhower at the height of the Cold War cut the defense budget by 20%.

He did it by being shrewd about what -- spend money on what not to.

Because he knew the military after only -- army chief -- that he'd been in general he knew where the soft stuff was he went after it.

-- -- I think probably could live -- They do have to put the time -- when I get from your book with congress either not gonna do exactly you want to got to put the time in the cut the deals or.

Push them or persuade them your direction.

Yet and the way to do that again is by by being modest than me and meet them halfway not taken all the credit and and being a little subtle about it.

-- be patient Eisenhower was enormously patient.

Quality I wish I had more most of us wish we had more -- what you he would only decide things when he actually had to.

And you wait let the other side make their case -- any movement when he moved.

-- -- -- business he would have make it up with Truman and -- an -- -- JFK even when he was out of office everyone still looked up to him.

Evan Thomas the book is called ice bluff it's amazing how apropos and how much we could use a guy like -- today in a leadership position thanks so much free -- think so.

Yeah thank you --

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