We Called It a War: Lessons Learned from the Fight to End Poverty

In these perilous times for democracy, I find myself seeking the wisdom of Sargent Shriver more and more. This vivid biography shows that the guiding principles of compassion and human dignity, and the expansion of America’s moral imagination, are the only ways we can survive as a nation.

Poverty is a moral failure that erodes the foundations of democracy; yet—as Sargent Shriver understood—we can be redeemed through intention and action. We Called It a War is essential reading for anyone committed to the challenge of proving democracy can deliver, especially today.

Sargent Shriver played a crucial role in creating America’s mid-twentieth-century movement to bring compassion and justice to our most disadvantaged citizens. In this very different political time, I wish we had this warm, decent, righteous and unconquerable man back among us.

Being in the inaugural class of Head Start put me on a path to learning, to the world outside of my environment, and to thinking creatively about what my life might be. Shriver’s retelling of his life’s work fighting poverty and inequality could not be more timely and has profound lessons for our democracy at this moment.

We Called It a War is a prophetic reminder that the fight against poverty has always been a moral struggle as much as a political one. It calls a new generation to remember that poverty is not inevitable—and to recommit, with courage and love, to the unfinished work of justice.

Sargent Shriver was one of a handful of public servants in the 1960s who left an indelible impression on those of us who joined the Peace Corps and enlisted in Sarge’s ranks as recruits in the War on Poverty. We Called It A War gives the details of the effort, but also the moral insistence in that historic American chapter.

Buckle your seat belt for this exhilarating front seat view of the War on Poverty from its primary architect. A deeply humble, moral, yet utterly visionary man and committed public servant, Shriver’s work on behalf of the nation was driven by a deep optimism about our nation, and all of its inhabitants, rich and poor.

This intimate look at the War on Poverty provides a beacon of hope today for the many people who are seeking solutions for winning this seemingly endless battle. In this powerful memoir, Shriver describes how he had collaborated with diverse constituents across America to find solutions to persistent inequities.

In these pages you feel the urgency, the creativity, and the deep humanity behind programs that lifted millions. We Called It a War isn’t a history lesson; it’s a reminder of what moral leadership looks like when we choose to act.

We Called It a War pulls you into the room where Head Start and Job Corps were born—not as abstract policy, but as concrete bets on people’s potential. Sargent Shriver’s voice throughout is practical, warm, and clear-eyed about what it actually took— and what it takes— to fight poverty at scale.

Sargent Shriver had a greater impact on society than just about anyone in his generation. Beyond the millions he engaged through the programs he launched and led was a man who embodied the best of American ideals of service, faith, and compassion.

Sargent Shriver was unique: a visionary, an idealist, a pragmatist, a managerial genius—and yes, a saint. This book is his story of the quest to combat poverty in America and the story of how his leadership lifted millions of lives.