Includes bibliographical references (p. [661]-768) and index.
Contents:
Evil days -- Definitions of acronyms and abbreviations -- 18. Introduction : "The shiniest fish that ever came out of the sea" -- pt. 1 -- 2. Rare meat : adding reach to power -- 3. Patterns of peril : joining the cold warriors -- 4. Rome and Carthage : the Truman Doctrine -- 5. The Marshall Plan and return to private life -- pt. 2 -- 6. The inner and outer Acheson -- 7. Acheson, the president and the State Department -- 8. Keeping the Americans in, the Russians out, and the Germans down, 1949 -- 9. Strategy in Europe : backing the West, probing the East -- 10. Looking for chances in China, 1949 -- 11. Neither wood nor ivory : checkmated in China, 1949-1950 -- 12. Other early encounters with Asia and the Middle East -- pt. 3 -- 13. Weapons : the H-bomb -- 14. Words : NSC-68, public opinion, and total diplomacy -- 15. Real diplomacy, in Europe, 1949-1950 -- 16. Plunge into the unknown : the United States, Indochina, and China on the eve of the Korean War -- 17. Friends in place : Acheson and Alger Hiss -- 18. Evil days -- A 19. Index. 20. In the cockpit -- 21. Prodding evolution with action : German rearmament -- 22. Acceleration from a running start -- pt. 5 -- 23. In thrall : ironic failures in Korea -- 24. Job's comforter and the mad Satrap -- 25. Captives of war -- 26. At different ends of the triangle : domestic debates, European armies, British allies -- pt. 6 -- 27. Command in Japan -- 28. Failure in Indochina and China -- 29. Razor edge sensibilities : ANZUS and India -- 30. Falling between two stools : the Middle East, North Africa, and Africa -- 31. Picking up sticks in Egypt and Iran -- 32. Jousting with Mosadeq, waiting for Nasser -- 33. Latin America : critical but not serious -- pt. 7 -- 34. Lisbon to letdown : the fate of the EDC -- 35. Apples of discord : Germany and the Soviet Union, 1952 -- 36. Scope for the exercise of every vital power -- 37. Conclusion : Power for a purpose -- A note to the reader -- Notes -- Index.
Summary:
Dean Acheson was one of the most influential Secretaries of State in U.S. history, presiding over American foreign policy during the pivotal decade after World War II. During his vastly influential career, Acheson spearheaded the greatest foreign policy achievements in modern times, ranging from the Marshall Plan to the establishment of NATO. In a book filled with insight based on research in government archives, memoirs, letters, and diaries, historian Beisner illuminates Acheson's policy-making, describing how he led the State Department and managed his relationship with Truman. The book examines Acheson's major triumphs, including the highly underrated achievement of converting West Germany and Japan from mortal enemies to prized allies, and does not shy away from examining his missteps. But underlying all his actions, Beisner shows, was a tough-minded determination to outmatch the strength of the Soviet bloc--indeed, to defeat the Soviet Union at every turn.--From publisher description.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.