By Kevin Seabrooke

Jordan, a New York Times bestselling author, explores the bond between Dwight Eisenhower and Winston Churchill—Kansas farm boy vs. aristocratic scion of Blenheim Palace—who would form one of the most consequential professional friendships of the 20th century.

Together they faced down Hitler, Stalin, two of the greatest threats to world peace. Later came the Cold War with the Soviets and the nuclear threat.

Where they differed most was in strategy. Remembering the trench warfare of WWI, Churchill was skeptical of a direct invasion of Europe such as Operation Overlord. He often lobbied for strikes in the Mediterranean, the Balkans, or Norway to weaken Germany before any “final blow.” Eisenhower, on the other hand, felt the American “direct approach” was the only solution and viewed Churchill’s ideas as distractions that jeopardized resources needed for the liberation of France.

Ike and Winston: World War, Cold War, and an Extraordinary Friendship (Jonathan W. Jordan, Dutton, New York, NY, 576 pp., May 12, 2026 $40 HC)