Pearl Harbor: FDR Leads the Nation Into War

by Steven M. Gillon

Franklin D. Roosevelt famously called December 7, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy.” History would prove him correct; the events of that day—when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor—ended the Great Depression, changed the course of FDR’s presidency, and swept America into World War II. In Pearl Harbor, acclaimed historian Steven M. Gillon provides a vivid, minute-by-minute account of Roosevelt’s skillful leadership in the wake of the most devastating military assault in American history. FDR proved both decisive and deceptive, inspiring the nation while keeping the real facts of the attack a secret from congressional leaders and the public. Pearl Harbor explores the anxious and emotional events surrounding the attack on Pearl Harbor, showing how the president and the American public responded in the pivotal twenty-four hours that followed, a period in which America burst from precarious peace into total war.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, World War II, War, Audiobook, Military History

248 pages, Hardcover

First published October 25, 2011

Reviews

[Karissa ₊˚⊹ ᰔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pearl Harbor: FDR Leads the Nation into War by Steven M. Gillon
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars)

Tropes & Themes:
🇺🇸 Historical nonfiction
🕰️ Real-time political drama
📜 Behind the scenes of history
🎖️ Wartime leadership
🧠 Smart but dense
👨‍⚖️ Flawed genius in power

⸻

Okay so… not my usual genre, but I’ve always been lowkey obsessed with World War II history and I wanted to learn more about how exactly FDR led the U.S. through one of its darkest and most defining moments.

This book is a super detailed deep dive into the 24 hours following the attack on Pearl Harbor and how Franklin D. Roosevelt navigated the chaos, pressure, and urgency of the moment. It’s not about the battle itself so much as what was happening behind closed doors such as phone calls, speeches, decisions, power moves… all that political chess♟️📞📣

FDR comes off as fascinating and super complex, a mix of brilliant, bold, manipulative, and surprisingly human. Gillon does a great job showing how much was happening so fast, and how FDR had to make huge choices that would literally shift the world’s future. No pressure or anything 🙃

⸻

What I liked:
✅ Lots of insight into FDR’s mindset
✅ Humanized history without getting too textbook-y
✅ The tension was REAL, it read like a political thriller at times
✅ Made me appreciate how intense that moment in U.S. history really was

⸻

What I didn’t love:
😵‍💫 A bit info heavy and dry in parts, sometimes it felt like a lecture
📚 Definitely more focused on politics than the people or emotions of the time
🌀 The pacing was uneven, some chapters flew, others dragged

⸻

Final thoughts:
If you’re a history buff, love political nonfiction, or want a better understanding of how FDR handled Pearl Harbor behind the scenes, this is a solid pick. Just be ready for a dense read that’s more about strategy than storytelling.

⸻

Rating: 3 stars
📖 Smart and informative
😮‍💨 A little dry but still engaging
🇺🇸 Gave me a new level of respect for wartime leadership

History nerds, this one’s for you ✌️

[Michael Flanagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read if not a slightly misleading title. What you get in this book is a look at Franklin D Roosevelt’s leadership of the USA into war. Pearl Harbour is the catalyst for this but if you are looking for a history of the Pearl Harbour incident look elsewhere.

The author gives us great insight on the high level of leadership required to take a nation to a war footing and rally a nation. This is my first book on FDR and I found this book gives a great understanding of the man and how he came to lead a nation. It is amazing to think that the public and many politicians had no idea how incapacitated the man was from polio. The lengths he went to hide his disability is truly amazing, and shows his strength of character when put into context regarding the time he lived.

The old saying that it is lonely on top is highlighted in this book as FDR moves to protect the nation from the shock of Pearl Harbour and to soothe their nerves. It also shows the obstacles he faced from a nation wanting to remain neutral. His vision and leadership should be studied be all with an interest in this area. Overall a great study into leadership and strength of character

[Kristi Thielen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, concise book about the first 24 hours after the bombing at Pearl Harbor, as FDR labors to gain a sense for what actually happened and shapes the official response he will deliver to the public. To anyone who has read much history of the era, the general sweep of the book is familiar.

There are, however, some smaller details that are interesting to note: the concern about the security of the phone line over while FDR conversed with military leaders - one participant actually implored that any American who might somehow be listening should do their patriotic duty and not reveal what they were eavesdropping on!

It's alarming to hear how long it was before FDR was told that the Arizona had been sunk and that the numbers of lost lives was so very high. And it is striking how completely FDR and subordinates believed that the Japanese, alone, couldn't possibly have accomplished the attack themselves: there had to be Germans involved, somehow.

A good read for anyone interested in the topic of disaster and aftermath, contrasting then and now.

[Jentry Overton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Learned a little more about FDR and his life / response to Pearl and his leadership into war. Cool to read about the nation uniting through such a horrible event.

[Len Knighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gillon's portrait of FDR in the 24 hours after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor is
one which illuminates and inspires. He paints FDR as a flawed man in many ways, but a man who overcame most of them to lead his nation into the greatest conflagration the world has ever seen. He brings Roosevelt's supporting cast into the narrative skillfully, making each a major player in the drama while they occupied the stage. A page turner.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writer Steven M. Gillon narrows America's (pre) WWII involvement to the specifics of the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, incorporating President Franklin Roosevelt's hour by hour responses to the attack, culminating with his address to Congress at 12:30pm, December 8, 1941. Congress moved with unprecedented speed to pass the war resolution, sent to the White House and signed by FDR at 4:10pm, a mere three hours and thirty-seven minutes from the time he began his address.
Gillon provides twenty pages of notes and documentation for this short book. The history is retold in a straight forward manner, yet takes a look back at FDR's upbringing, challenges, and deceptions, all which helped him face the nation, unify the politicos and lead the nation into war.

[Cincylitigator · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok took me a while to read this because I picked it up and put it down a couple of times. The best thing is that I finished it on Memorial Day - not necessarily planned but serendipitous. I had never read a book focusing on FDR so welcome the insight. There are some tidbits here that are very interesting such as the role polio played in steeling FDR for the Pearl Harbor ordeal. It is mind boggling that his handicap could have been concealed so that an average American had no idea FDR never walked on a cane except in public appearances and then only did a faux walk as he was totally paralyzed below the waist. Also of interest was the relationship between he and Eleanor which was very unorthodox if not dysfunctional. Finally I never felt viscerally about the Japanese internment until I read this book. Somehow in context that episode came to life in all of its horror. This is slightly better than the average WW II text which tend to be a series of seemingly unrelated anecdotes. In this respect Gillon deserves some credit for giving his book a theme and coherence that make reading almost gripping at times. So how does a conservative come away feeling about the most liberal president of all time. Overall positive. FDR was a flawed man like all of our presidents. Nonetheless I am persuaded he had unique characteristics such as his deathly calm in the face of a horrendous storm that was instrumental in steering us through one of our greatest challenges. In retrospect I can be very grateful that FDR was in his position when the proverbial stuff hit the fan.

[Mirela · Rating 3 out of 5]

#PearlHarbor #StevenGillion #WW2

Deși este o carte istorică ce se citește mai greu, pot spune că o recomand pasionaților.

Autorul începe prin a detalia contextul politic în care a venit atacul Japoniei asupra celei mai sigure baze militare americane de la acea vreme: Pearl Harbor. Apoi continuă prin a reda, în cele mai mici amănunte, toate acțiunile președintelui Roosevelt din momentul în care a aflat vestea, și până a treia zi când a fost declarată starea de război contra Japoniei de către congres.

Vă vine sau nu să credeți, acest atac a venit ca o ușurare pentru președinte care, de luni bune, se străduia să convingă americanii pentru a intra în războiul împotriva lui Hitler. Sunt multe amănunte interesante în carte, pe care vă voi lasa să le descoperiți singuri.

Concluzia însă, pe care aș vrea sa o împărtășesc cu voi, este aceea că lui Roosevelt i-a fost dat să fie parte din acest război.

De la caracterul calm al președintelui (conturat de problemele de sănătate), la viziunea acestuia asupra răului absolut pe care îl reprezenta Hitler, continuând cu un extraordinar al 6-lea simț în ceea ce privește modul de a ajunge la auditoriu prin discursurile sale, pot spune că Roosevelt a fost OMUL potrivit la locul potrivit.

Desigur a avut derapajele lui, menționate de autor, în ceea ce privește modul în care au fost tratați cei de origine japoneză după atac. Dar despre asta și multe altele, vă las pe voi să le descoperiți.

Intr-o lume chinuită de război, să fie cu pace!

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is okay and even enjoyable, but it is NOT a concise historical look at FDR's response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The author goes through an introduction about the lack of information about FDR's response during the day of December 7 and how it was time to correct that deficiency. However, about 75% or more of this book doesn't deal with FDR's response. Parts of it include mini-biographical sketches of FDR, Elanor, and a few other political and military leaders-American, Japanese, and German. The author takes liberties to fill in gaps about things in which there is no recorded history (but to his credit, he states when he does this). He also spends time discussing mundane issues such as the treatment for sinus infections in the 1940's, how FDR's aids got him dressed, his affairs, and so on. These seems to be rabbit trails the author follows in order to have enough material to fill the book. For example, he spends a considerable amount of time discussing the plight of FDR's secretary, her stroke, and how FDR funded her care, although none of this had anything to do with the events of December 7 except that FDR did not return her phone call. The title of the book is very, very misleading.

[Tom Burkhalter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steven Gillon has written a well-paced and apparently minutely researched book mostly concerning the events of the 24 hours on either side of the President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, learning of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. "Mostly" covers contextual matters about the President's early life and formative events, such as his affliction with infantile paralysis. This is pretty close to a must-read book for someone with an interest in the events leading up to the US entry into World War II. It succeeds very well in evoking the era, and is not a "look back" book, as the author makes every effort to put us in the shoes of the participants; not what we know now, but what they knew at the time. In this connection it might have been better if Gillon had made the time difference between Honolulu and Washington, DC, and in particular between Washington, DC, and Manila in the Philippines, a little more explicit. Not knowing the time difference made the sequence of events a little harder to follow.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short book about how FDR was informed and how he acted once he understood what had happened. It gave a good run-up to the attack and what FDR was worried about.

What surprised me was how FDR just trampled on the constitution. His immediate worry was that the US citizens would be demoralized if they knew the scope of the destruction at Pearl. So he quickly began to figure out how to institute censorship. And then the fear that Japanese-Americans would sabotage military operations/facilities led to their internment. While I knew the history, it was disturbing that there were few objections to these actions.

But the book again demonstrated how fortunate America is to have strong effective leadership during these terrible times.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely well-worth the $3 on audible (which, I'm assuming, was a D-Day special).

Once again, my mind is blown by my own ignorance. I really knew very little about what was going on stateside- actually, I'm realizing my knowledge of German internal politics during this era has far exceeded that of its US counterpart. This was a great, brief and fascinating crash course for me.

There were so many little tidbits that I discovered (e.g. Orson Welles' whole War of the Worlds radio stunt was quite the "boy who cried wolf" so far as the American public pretty much thinking the Pearl Harbor announcements were poppycock!)

The more I learn the more ignorant I realize I am, so I guess insomnia has its perks...

[Tim Jin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pearl Harbor: FDR Leads the Nation into War by Steven M. Gillon is just okay. There is nothing new that I haven't read about. I've listened to numerous of hours on this war and the 32nd President, that I have became a nerd on this subject. There are way better books out there.

If you are a total novice on the subject, or teaching history in high school and need reading material on Pearl Harbor and FDR, then this is a good start. But, if you are a history geek, I would simply pass on Gillon's writing on this one.

There is nothing new from the past that wants you to listen to more.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fascination for me is FDR and Churchill.... I loved the idea of this book. I'm always looking for books on these two. Such a an extraordinary time...I hope it never happens again. We certainly do not have the quality of leadership.

In many ways it probably was a very good thing that news did not travel instantaneously. I wonder what would have happened if the package that carried the warning for Pearl Harbor was marked correctly.

I was happy that it was admitted that the internment of Japanese Americans was a mistake. Fear does many things....

[Shawn Deal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good examination of the 24 to 48 hours from the initial attack. This is strictly looking at FDR’s reaction in those hours. It does not, nor did it intend, to go into a thorough history of the politics that lead to the attack. There are other books for that. This is a very good book for what it is looking at. Well researched, easy to follow, and interesting.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this was an overall good book on what FDR went through in the day of Pearl Harbor and its overall effect in government.

FDR was deceptive and although externally warm no one knew who he was and he did not have any true friends. He also wanted contentious debate in his ring of advisors and personnel who served him. FDR concentrated on Europe his war efforts and not in Asia. He was avowed internationalist who advocated American involvement in military affairs and leadership position. Although FDR wanted to engage against the Nazi advance, an isolationist America due to WWI and the Great Depression did not want FDR to engage with fascist aggression. Taking advantage of the shifting American mood in Facism, FDR decided to increase funding to US military. FDR convinced the public that he ran b/c he wanted to defend American's against attack from a foreign force. He elected to have Stimpson, a Republican as Secretary of War. He believed that the US assumes the responsibilities of global superpower. American business interests should expand around the world, government policy should be designed to further those interests, and the power to shape foreign policy should be vested in the presidency. He was able to massage public opinion to favor his international view of what needs to be done.

The Japanese were aggressive in their expansionist policy since FDR was focused solely on European aggression. He was more concerned with Nazi aggression than Japanese aggression so he did not want a 2 front war b/c Americans were not prepared for a 2 front war. B/c of the oil embargo confronted by the Japanese, their government demanded action in the form on attacking the US to send a signal towards the US. Meanwhile, the US were trying to avoid war with Japan b/c they believed they could not fight a 2 front war and believed that fighting a war with Japan would take resources away from the Nazi's. They believed that Nazi's were more dangerous to freedom than the Japanese.

FDR did not trust anyone from his administration who could have gained something from his position. Hopkins was the exception, in him, Roosevelt found someone who could execute FDR's vision. Although FDR expected war with Japan was imminent even going as far as moving the US fleet to Hawaii, he did not expect the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. They believed that the Japanese would attack the British pacific possessions first. At this point, FDR was seeing how the US would sell war to a reluctant American public if Japan attacked British holdings.

Yamamamoto respected American industrial capabilities and thought that crippling the US naval pacific fleet via a Japanese version of the German blitzkrieg was a prerequisite to any Japanese imperial ambition. He also liked to gamble so he gambled that this would payoff. B/c Americans believed that the Japanese would never attack Pearl Harbor as the impenetrable defenses that they possess, we were caught off guard when they did attack us successfully destroying all but our air craft carriers. It seemed that most of the US believed that Pearl Harbor could not be attacked and destroyed that it was invincible to Japanese attack. Whereas the Japanese military believed a preemptive strike would cripple American resolve to fight them, there diplomats knew that American's going to war against Japan meant the end of Imperial Japan. Stimpson was glad that Japan attacked the US b/c the uncertainty of what would happened next was cleared. Since Japan attacked the US, we would declare war on Japan. Furthermore, he commanded tight control on the press and defense against possible saboteurs.

When FDR wrote the speech for Declaration of war against Japan, he spoke every word slowly and enunciating every word. FDR tightly controlled the media by cultivating a family

atmosphere in the White House Press Corps. Unlike the news of today, the news in the '40's spread slowly. The people who did here about the Japanese attack assumed the Japanese military was a 3rd rate threat that could easily be defeated by the mighty US army. Most Americans did not realize that the US was being pulled into WWII. General hysteria became the law of the land and in response, Hawaii's governor declared martial law in order to protect his population from general saboteurs and other possible enemy combatants that may have landed on Hawaii. Is it ok for the white house to withhold information from the American public in the pretense that they are helping them by making the public not aware of the utter destruction of American Western defenses?

Whereas prior to WWII the White House grounds were open to the public, after Pearl Harbor the Secret Service increased presidential security to today's levels. Unfortunately like all American's of the time, FDR had racist attitudes toward Japanese Americans believing them incapable of assimilating towards American culture. Despite assurance to the contrary that Japanese Americans were not going to rise up against the US, American racism was deeply entrenched so that these American's were imprisoned b/c of the way they looked. In the eve of American intervention in WWII, the British were losing hope in their prospect for victory with Germany fast closing in Europe and Japan about to take away their Eastern empire. While Churchill was happy that America finally entered the war b/c he believed in American industrial machine to win the day, Hitler was also glad that Japan attacked the Americans b/c he did not think that the US could win a two front war.

Even though MacArthur was warned of impending Japanese attack b/c Hawaii was attacked, he disagreed with a preemptive strike against Japanese forces in Formosa; thus he was caught flat-footed against Japanese aggression when they bombed the Philippines. Ever aware of public mood, FDR harnessed the public mood into declaring war on Japan and Germany. He was planning to pivot the publics anger over Japanese attack into war justification against Nazi Germany.

B/c FDR became an invalid b/c of his polio, Elenor became his eyes and ears in the world-@-large reporting to him and thus influencing all his policy decisions. Although Elenor was shy and insecure, she won FDR with her sincerity, intelligence, trust-fund, and the fact that she was the niece of his hero and then President Theodore Roosevelt. After FDR's infidelity, Elenor was more independent shifting their relationship to a more public partnership rather than a marriage. Gillon attributes FDR's prenatural calming demeanor on the suffocating safety blanket that his mother provided for him. But, it was his determination that he would beat polio that really made him shine during his presidency. The fact that he had an external upbeat personality that made primed for the presidency. Polio gave FDR the depth of character and augmented his superficial ambitious nature with empathizing for ill and needy. FDR ability to disassemble also came from his polio since he hid from the public his being a cripple by polio.

Perhaps the neocons are really the inheritors of FDR international interventionist policies b/c like the neocons refusal to believe Al-Qaeda could execute 9/11 without Iraqi help, FDR refused to believe that Japan could surprise America without Nazi help. So he sought to link the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor with Nazi Facism and thus missed the Japanese psychology behind their attack on Pearl Harbor. The Japanese used our racist tendencies to catch Americans totally off

guard in Pearl Harbor. But since the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, FDR had a greater clarity on what needed to be done. FDR placed the priority of the nation above familial concerns such as Elenor or later his surrogate wife, LeHand. B/c Congress were already shell-shocked over the toned down version of events, FDR did not want to provide the true extent of Pearl Harbors devastation. Whereas the strategy to defeat Nazi Germany laid in an offensive invasion to push the Germans back, the strategy for the Japanese was a war of attrition to strangle the Japs war supply so that their will would be broken. Reporters used to think about national security matters before breaking news. FDR's sons served in the war just like everyone else's sons.

In the speech to declare war on Japan, FDR was only concerned with looking presidential by not falling on his face while walking up to the podium. He detailed the deeds that Japan did to destroy American interests and asked a united Congress and American people for a declaration of war against Japan. With the US united against the Axis powers, American unemployment sunk to undetectable levels. Why does war and its industries sink unemployment while other direct government programs not do anything for unemployment? War grows federal government and with it regulated bureaucracy. It also led to an instituting of a federal income tax. WWII shifted the balance of power from the Congress to the Presidency and its bureaucracies.

[Everydayreader1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

acclaimed historian, Steven M. Gillon, details the events of December 7, 1941--the day the empire of Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. He writes about this day, the people involved, the actions of President Roosevelt and the Cabinet, and others-including the government of Japan and the leaders of the attack. The book chronicles the twenty-four hours from the time of the attack through the actions of the President and Congress on December 8, 1941. Interspersed with this chronology, is the historical perspective and the events leading up to the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

I have read several books about Pearl Harbor, and I believe this one to be the best I've read. It is so detailed and interesting. It reads like a thriller, and is a woven tapestry of the time. I learned many things I have not seen in other accounts. If you want to read an un-sanitized account, this book is for you. Reading this book inspires me to read some of the author's other titles, especially about the Kennedy assassination and American politics.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel surprised me when I started to read it. I thought it was just going to be a book about Pearl Harbor and nothing else, but most of the book contained info about Franklin Roosevelt. I liked that Gillon described the tragic event for about one to two chapters, and then focused more on the reactions of the White House staff. However, It mainly showcases FDR's leadership skills, strengths, and flaws. This book proves how great of a President he was.

FDR Leads the Nation into War was an enjoyable read. It was very interesting to learn the reasons for the Pearl Harbor bombing. I honestly didn't know much about it, but I learned the U.S negotiated with Japan before and tried to prevent war. I learned how unexpected the attack was, and how FDR handled it calmly. I learned that FDR inspired and impacted Americans through his presidency, and did everything he could to protect our country. I give this novel 4 stars.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is outstanding, and I recommended it to family and friends. I've read other books about Pearl Harbor, but the perspective in this one, how FDR lived those 24 hours, is fascinating. The reader does learn about Pearl Harbor and the bombing, what the Japanese did in other countries too, on Dec 7 and 8. But the reader really learns most about FDR as a leader - dealing with Polio, not close to his wife, choosing to override others' opinions about how he should give the first speech after the bombing. His leadership in those 24 hours changed what happened to the US in the following decades. Being a President for 3 terms had to be difficult, especially with his physical struggles, but the way the author presents him makes you want to cheer for each decision and test of courage and strength. The book reads like a story, and I was fascinated from start to end.

[Vicki Andrada · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was like no other I've read about Pearl Harbor. It didn't concentrate on the battles, rather it focused largely on the reaction of President Roosevelt and those around him in the first 24 hours after the attack on Pearl. I learned a lot about president Roosevelt in this book, and how he handled a crisis not only affecting the United States but also affecting the entire world.

I thought this book was great, and plan to read more from this author in the future. So I'd totally recommend this book.

[Brett Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short and concise but interesting read on FDR in the 24 hours after Pearl. Bounces around a little so can be a touch hard to follow, but interesting how he used the Japanese attack to proliferate war on Nazi Germany, which he deemed the greater enemy.

[Eric]

Clearly demonstrates the unpreparedness of the military and governmental capability to conduct war on both the military and political perspective.

[Bernd Schnabl · Rating 4 out of 5]

only half the book is about Pearl Harbor, but still an interesting read.
Sheds light on his relationship with his secretary/surrogate wife/chief of staff
Marguerite Alice "Missy" LeHand.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different perspective by concentrating on FDR and how he handles it - very good

[Alex Dimaio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent and brief look into the attack on Pearl Harbor.

[Jim Standridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. I enjoyed it very much. Once you get used to the style with flashbacks and side stories mixed in. Lots of good incidental information. I think most readers will enjoy it.

[Jeff J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A study of Roosevelt’s decision-making around the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

[James Files · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book isn't really about Pearl Harbor. It's an FDR apologist making excuses for his crimes and failures.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

In process of reading, very enjoyable at first,, then dragged on!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the detailed focus of this book. The author concentrated primarily on the 24-36 hour period surrounding the attack on December 7, 1941 of the Japanese on Pearl Harbor. I've read widely on WWII and several books on FDR, but this work, while providing necessary background for context, limited it's scope to a very short but significant time period and its significance. Consequently, I was exposed to new material and gained a greater understanding of this momentous event in world history.

Well done and definitely worth the time...it provided comparison and contrast to the events and leadership we are experiencing in our own time and place, more than 75 years later.