I Was There: The Personal Story of the Chief of Staff to Presidents Roosevelt and Truman

Admiral Leahy, as Chief of Staff to both wartime presidents, was the senior-ranking military man in the United States. He is, therefore, the only living American who could have written this highly comprehensive and significant book. I WAS THERE is one of the most important chronicles of our time. A frank appraisal of great men and stirring events, it is a forthright and intensely interesting narration of the curial war years.

“I was there. Throughout almost five years from November, 1940, to the end of World War II in September, 1945, my duties placed me at pivotal points in the high command that accomplished the defeat of our enemies against what at times seemed heavy odds. These observations are based on participation in many historic discussions at which the course of the war was charted and at which attempts were made to map the road to peace.”—Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, Chapter I