This work investigates the generational transition of political power in the United States as the post-World War II leadership gave way to a new cohort defined by the social and military upheavals of the mid-20th century. David S. Broder, a veteran political journalist, utilizes his extensive access to Washington insiders and his observations of the American political landscape to analyze how the experiences of the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and the Watergate scandal fundamentally altered the governing philosophy of the nation's new leaders.

Experts frequently cite this book as a primary source for understanding the shifting political demographics and ideological changes in the American capital during the late 20th century. Readers often note the journalistic clarity of the prose, which provides a detailed snapshot of a pivotal era in United States political history.