Martin Thornton

Times of Heroism, Times of Terror (eBook, PDF)

American Presidents and the Cold War

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

Understanding foreign policy has become more essential than ever in today's integrated world. How the United States acts as a nation has far-reaching consequences, especially in times of war. To better understand America's stance on foreign policy today, it is helpful to analyze how U.S. presidents and leaders have acted in the past, particularly throughout the 20th century. Thornton argues that descriptions or the classification of presidents have been misleading since presidents are often reacting to unique foreign policy crises and at times may have, through good diplomacy, forestalled serious crises from developing. Basing his insights on numerous first-hand sources such as handwritten notes and memos taken during meetings of heads-of-state, he portrays the presidents as very human individuals struggling with difficult questions and the responsibilities only men of their position have to deal with. Topics examined in the book include but are not limited to: Events leading up to the Cold War 1946-1952: Truman and Containment 1953-1960: Eisenhower and Military Challenge 1961-1963: JFK and Foreign Policy Leadership 1963-1968: Johnson and War Home and Abroad 1969-1974: Nixon, Kissinger, and the Search for Peace 1974-1976: Gerald R. Ford 1977-1980: Jimmy Carter 1981-1988: Ronald Reagan 1989-1991: George H. Bush and the End of the War. This text stands out due to its readability and its comprehensiveness. The average reader will have no problem getting a clear grasp of the topic at hand. The college professor of U.S. or international history, political science, international studies, or even ethicist who wishes to engage students in their reading assignments would do well to pick up this text.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Bloomsbury Publishing Inc
• Seitenzahl: 190
• Erscheinungstermin: 30. Mai 2005
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9780313068140
• Artikelnr.: 72334234

Autorenporträt

Martin Thornton is a senior lecturer in the School of History at the University of Leeds, England. He has also been Director of the Centre for Canadian Studies at the University and a visiting professor at Vanderbilt University.

Inhaltsangabe

Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Total War and the Quest for Peace
1945 Harry S. Truman and Containment
1946-1952 Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Military Challenge
1953-1960 John F. Kennedy: The Problems of Foreign Policy Leadership
1961-1963 Lyndon B. Johnson at War: Home and Abroad
1963-1968 Richard M. Nixon
Henry Kissinger and the Search for Peace
1969-1974 Gerald R. Ford: An Interregnum
1974-1976 Jimmy Carter: Prisoner in the Rose Garden
1977-1980 Ronald Reagan
Star Wars and the Evil Empire
1981-1988 George H. W. Bush and the End the of Cold War
1989-1991 Bibliography Index