The Partnership: George Marshall, Henry Stimson, and the Extraordinary Collaboration That Won World War II

In this superb and deeply researched first book, independent scholar Aldrich covers the lives and careers of FDR’s Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson (1867–1950) and FDR’s Army Chief of Staff Gen. George C. Marshall (1880–1959). During the Second World War, Aldrich argues, these two men, brought together by President Roosevelt, formed a powerful working partnership second to none in the military history of the United States. Each man, through their strength of character, led by example and demanded much of their subordinates while also demanding much of themselves. They shared a similar view of American defense efforts: Stimson was a staunch interventionist, while Marshall believed the U.S. needed a well-trained and well-equipped army at the ready. While much has been written about the relationships of the United States’ top battlefield commanders, little has been written about the relationships between the nation’s civilian and military leadership. Aldrich’s dual biography fills that niche very well and gives good insight into the lives of Stimson and Marshall.