In a two-night event, History will take a close look at the eight modern-day U.S. presidents who served in wars before becoming the nation’s commander-in-chief.

In Presidents at War, History tells the stories of Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, all of whom served active military duty in World War II. In the Pacific theater, 19-year-old Bush served as a bomber pilot, while 25-year-old John F. Kennedy commanded a PT boat. Meanwhile, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, led the forces in Europe as Supreme Allied Commander.

Each was changed by the crucible of war, which shaped the decisions they made when they reached the White House, according to History.

“The future doesn’t belong to the faint-hearted,” says Reagan in the trailer. “It belongs to the brave.”

Presidents at War airs Sunday, Feb. 17, and Monday, Feb. 18, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. During Presidents Weekend, History also will air other presidential-themed programming, including The Secret History of the White House and The Secret History of Air Force One.

Presidents at War is produced for History by Raw, an All3 Media company. Sam Maynard serves as the executive producer for Raw, an All3 Media company. Mary E. Donahue serves as the executive producer for History.

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