--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yes, Obama took over two wars from Bush…" description: "\"Yes, Obama took over two wars from Bush - just as President Richard Nixon inherited Vietnam from President Lyndon Johnson and President Dwight Eisenhow..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efb/bret-stephens-3977_dwight-eisenhower_yes-obama-took-over-two-wars-from-bush-j_2421468.jpg" --- # Yes, Obama took over two wars from Bush - just as… ![“Yes, Obama took over two wars from Bush - just as President Richard Nixon inherited Vietnam from President Lyndon Johnson and President Dwight Eisenhower inherited Korea from President Harry Truman. But at least the war in Iraq was all but won by 2009, thanks largely to the very surge Obama had…” quote by Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efb/bret-stephens-3977_dwight-eisenhower_yes-obama-took-over-two-wars-from-bush-j_2421468.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efb/bret-stephens-3977_dwight-eisenhower_yes-obama-took-over-two-wars-from-bush-j_2421468.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efb/bret-stephens-3977_dwight-eisenhower_yes-obama-took-over-two-wars-from-bush-j_2421468.jpg) > “Yes, Obama took over two wars from Bush - just as President Richard Nixon inherited Vietnam from President Lyndon Johnson and President Dwight Eisenhower inherited Korea from President Harry Truman. But at least the war in Iraq was all but won by 2009, thanks largely to the very surge Obama had opposed as a senator.” [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote compares how U.S. presidents inherit ongoing wars from their predecessors, highlighting the continuity of foreign conflicts across administrations. **In simple terms:** Presidents often inherit wars from those before them. Key Takeaway Recognize the historical context of conflicts. Themes history politics war leadership continuity Mood analytical critical Type historical political When to use this quote - policy analysis - historical study - government briefing - public discourse - media commentary Key Concepts inheritance strategic decision military policy Questions to Reflect On - How do inherited conflicts shape a president’s legacy? - What factors beyond inheritance affect war outcomes? A Different Perspective It oversimplifies complex geopolitical factors and individual agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [President lyndon johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-lyndon-johnson/) [Vietnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vietnam/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wars/) ## Related quotes > [“Even when the British took part in these wars, they fought on other people's territory or at sea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/even-when-the-british-took-part-in-these-wars-they-fought-on-other/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [President Lyndon Johnson's high spirits were marked as he circulated among the many guests whom he had invited to witness an event he confidently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/president-lyndon-johnson-s-high-spirits-were-marked-as-he-circulated/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [President Lyndon Johnson's administration was known for his War on Poverty. 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Inefficiency at this point may indicate that your interest is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/president-lyndon-johnson-s-10-point-formula-for-success-1-learn-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [President Lyndon Johnson was very, very unpredictable. We never knew for sure what he is going to do next, and he preferred to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-hill/president-lyndon-johnson-was-very-very-unpredictable-we-never-knew/) [Clint Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-hill/) > [I call upon both Republicans and Democrats to work with us to have a national ID card that is free and accessible. President Lyndon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/i-call-upon-both-republicans-and-democrats-to-work-with-us-to-have-a/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [“LIED-ABOUT WARS Advertising campaigns, marketing schemes. The target is public opinion. Wars are sold the same way cars are, by lying. In August 1964,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/lied-about-wars-advertising-campaigns-marketing-schemes-the-target-is/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) ## More by Bret Stephens > [The hater always suffers more than the object of his hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/the-hater-always-suffers-more-than-the-object-of-his-hatred/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [Listen carefully to the global warming alarmists, and the main theme that emerges is that what the developed world needs is a large dose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/listen-carefully-to-the-global-warming-alarmists-and-the-main-theme/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > ['Democratic socialism' is awful as a slogan and catastrophic as a policy. And 'social democracy' - a term that better fits the belief of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/democratic-socialism-is-awful-as-a-slogan-and-catastrophic-as-a/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [When you work at 'The Wall Street Journal,' the coins of the realm are truth and trust - the latter flowing exclusively from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/when-you-work-at-the-wall-street-journal-the-coins-of-the-realm-are/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [No adviser to a president is going to get his way all of the time, but at a minimum, that adviser should be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/no-adviser-to-a-president-is-going-to-get-his-way-all-of-the-time-but/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [Every president inherits a mixed bag when he comes to office, and Obama's was hardly the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/every-president-inherits-a-mixed-bag-when-he-comes-to-office-and/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [There was a time when the conservative movement was led by the likes of Bill Buckley and Irving Kristol and Bob Bartley, men of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/there-was-a-time-when-the-conservative-movement-was-led-by-the-likes/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [We elected Donald J. Trump to keep us jittery and entertained. He's delivered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/we-elected-donald-j-trump-to-keep-us-jittery-and-entertained-he-s/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [The United States survives so long as at least one of its major parties is politically and intellectually healthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/the-united-states-survives-so-long-as-at-least-one-of-its-major/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [Censoriously asserting one's moral superiority and treating skeptics as imbeciles and deplorables wins few converts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/censoriously-asserting-one-s-moral-superiority-and-treating-skeptics/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [What is absolutely clear is that if Trump is the nominee, Republicans cannot win. Maybe they can't win with Rubio or Cruz or Kasich.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/what-is-absolutely-clear-is-that-if-trump-is-the-nominee-republicans/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [Everything Republicans once claimed to advocate - entitlement reform, free trade, standing up to dictators, encouraging the march of freedom around the world -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/everything-republicans-once-claimed-to-advocate-entitlement-reform/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [The best scientific evidence suggests temperatures are rising, and the best scientific evidence suggests man-made anthropogenic carbon emissions have some substantial thing to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/the-best-scientific-evidence-suggests-temperatures-are-rising-and-the/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [The intelligent defense of free speech should not rest on the notion that we must tolerate every form of speech, no matter how offensive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/the-intelligent-defense-of-free-speech-should-not-rest-on-the-notion/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [When George W. Bush decided to save the American position in Iraq by going against the advice of all of his wise men, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/when-george-w-bush-decided-to-save-the-american-position-in-iraq-by/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) [Explore all 118 Bret Stephens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) ## More Dwight eisenhower quotes > [Dwight Eisenhower presented a face of America that was heroic and resolute; Ronald Reagan represented a return to confidence and glamour after the weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-reid/dwight-eisenhower-presented-a-face-of-america-that-was-heroic-and/) [Joy Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-reid/) > [ I played with \[Dwight Eisenhower\] on the day after I won the Masters at his request. We became everlasting friends. 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John Lewis, Georgia Democrat and a civil rights leader during the 1960s, was one of those calling on the president for a more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rep-john-lewis-georgia-democrat-and-a-civil-rights-leader-during-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 61 Dwight eisenhower quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Yes, Obama took over two wars from Bush - just as President Richard Nixon inherited Vietnam from President Lyndon Johnson and President Dwight Eisenhower inherited Korea from President Harry Truman. 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