Dean Acheson: The Cold
War Years, 1953-71
Yale University Press,
November 1992
Dean
Acheson
is
perhaps
best
remembered
as
President
Harry
Truman's
powerful
secretary
of
state.
Yet
he
also
played
a major
role
in
politics
and
foreign
affairs
after
his
tenure
in
the
Truman
administration.
This
engrossing
book,
the
first
to
chronicle
Acheson's
postsecretarial
career,
paints
a portrait
of
a brilliant,
irascible,
and
powerful
man
acting
during
a turbulent
period
in
American
history.
 
"Brinkley
has written
a fascinating
portrait
of Dean Acheson,
with all
his strengths
and weaknesses,
and given
us an illuminating
perspective
on America
foreign policy
in the Cold
War, with
all its strengths
and weaknesses.
Highly recommended." – Stephen
E. Ambrose,
Director,
Eisenhower
Center, Metropolitan
College,
University
of New Orleans
"Brinkley here tells an informative and gripping
story of Acheson’s life after he had ended his
tenure as Truman’s last secretary of state. The
book places Acheson’s contributions to American
foreign policy during this period in enlightened perspective.
Its mixture of politics and personalities mirror the
complexities of a dangerous, unsettled time." – Forrest
C. Pogue
"In Brinkley’s superb
study, the record of Dean Acheson out of power is even
more telling of the man and statesman than is his famous
tenure as secretary of state. Like Brinkley’s
masterful biography of James Forrestal, this is an
essential understanding of our past, and thus our present." – Roger
Morris
"A fascinating story told with verve and
insight." – Lloyd
C. Gardner
"This book is not only a valuable and balanced
study of Dean Acheson’s later years but is also
an interesting perspective on American foreign policy,
international affairs, the Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson,
and Nixon presidencies, and the political/intellectual
divisions within the Democratic Party and American society
during that period." – Gaddis
Smith
"Thoroughly researched and eminently readable,
Brinkley’s book provides the fullest account yet
of Acheson’s career in politics and diplomacy following
his turbulent tenure as secretary of state. Revealed
here, blemished and all, is a colorful portrait of one
of this century’s most influential policymakers." – Michael
Hogan
"Brinkley, having done with Townsend Hoopes the
definitive book illuminating the days of James Forrestal,
now gives us definitive insights to a later period. It
is a tale of Acheson’s wit and character overcoming
the frustrations of being the advisor to lesser men." – Paul
Nitze
COMING SOON
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