Lessons learned: After the Revolutionary War, Washington knew the British remained a serious threat. As president, he signed an unpopular treaty that kept the country safe from British invasion.
Andrew Jackson Top military rank: Major general Presidential term: 1829-37
Lessons learned: Jackson stood up against a strong British Army and won. That David-vs.-Goliath battle gave him the courage to take on foes like the Second U.S. Bank.
Theodore Roosevelt Top military rank: Colonel Presidential term: 1901-09
Lessons learned: He returned from the Spanish-American War strengthened politically as a national hero. He understood the power of personality and how much it can aid a president’s success.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Top military rank: General Presidential term: 1953-61
Lessons learned: After serving in Europe, he knew commanders inflated budgets. When pressured by the Pentagon for an increased defense war chest, he said no and kept the budget balanced.
John F. Kennedy Top military rank: Lieutenant Presidential term: 1961-63
Lessons learned: His service during World War II gave him an appreciation for details, how one thing gone wrong can cause larger problems. That mind-set served him well during the Cuban missile crisis.
George H.W. Bush Top military rank: Lieutenant Presidential term: 1989–93
Lessons learned: His experience as a naval aviator— he was shot down and lost two crewmen—made him aware of the risks of war. That may have encouraged his presidential support of the Powell doctrine.
