"By probing Eisenhower's response to the Sputnik scare, Yanek Mieczkowski, better than any historian thus far, has shown the general's understanding that his nation's strength rested on a proper balance of the spiritual, economic, technological, civilian, and military spheres. Drawing on both documentary material and his interviews with key figures, this lively, well-researched, and eminently readable book should be a primer for presidents and policymakers in the twenty-first century."-William B. Pickett, author of Eisenhower Decides to Run
"The 'Sputnik Moment' has been invoked in the twenty-first century as shorthand to symbolize how the United States has traditionally been surprised and shocked by external events and how it ultimately recovered and triumphed. It has held symbolic value as the classic story of American history in which a vision of progress dominates, but as Yanek Mieczkowski makes clear, there is so much more to learn. He analyzes this 'moment' as Eisenhower experienced it and finds that the classic narrative is much more about partisan politics and long-term Cold War strategy than about responding to crisis. This most welcome book will become a benchmark in the historiography of the space age."- Roger D. Launius, Senior Curator, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, author of After Apollo: The Legacy of the American Moon Landings
"The Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik in 1957 was a shock. Dwight Eisenhower, it turns out, was the nation's shock-absorber-in-chief. Deeply researched and absorbing, Yanek Mieczkowski's new book makes a ringing case for Eisenhower's calm, restrained approach to this alleged calamity, and shows convincingly that the president left the country well ahead of the Soviets in the race for space, and without breaking the federal budget. Eisenhower's Sputnik Moment is a superb contribution to Eisenhower scholarship and the new political history."-Andrew J. Rotter, Charles Dana Professor of History, Colgate University, author of Comrades at Odds: The United States and India, 1947-1964
"Yanek Mieczkowski's study of Eisenhower during the Sputnik period is a very wonderful contribution to history. In particular, Eisenhower has not been given enough credit for a lot of things. His leadership and his technical knowledge on how to catch up to the Russians got us to the moon. Most of the credit for this goes to Kennedy, but Eisenhower's Sputnik Moment shows who was really responsible for developing our space program. A lot of Ike's major contributions have just never been credited to him; I want to thank Mieczkowski for his valuable work."-Senator Larry Pressler (Ret.)
"Beautifully written and meticulously researched, this exquisitely balanced study of Ike's strengths and weaknesses during a national crisis is absolutely essential for understanding the complex, incremental style of leadership that led to monumental achievements by President Eisenhower. In reading this book you will understand why Frank Gehry, the world's most celebrated living architect, came to be fascinated by Ike's innovative scientific spirit and designed a memorial to match it."-Carl W. Reddel, Brig. Gen., USAF (Ret.), Executive Director, Eisenhower Memorial Commission
"Yanek Mieczkowski's new book helps greatly to clear away the deep weeds of political rhetoric and posturing about Sputnik in the early Cold War years, enabling the reader to understand fully the moment, President Eisenhower's response to it, and the consequences of his response. In my documentary on Eisenhower's Cold War leadership (Ike: Building Weapons, Talking Peace), I let Mieczkowski and his excellent research tell the real story behind Sputnik's apparent scientific and political "triumphs" for the Soviet Union in the race for control of the heavens and superiority in the Cold War."-George A. Colburn, writer and producer of Eisenhower's Secret War
