Times of Heroism, Times of Terror: American Presidents and the Cold War

by Martin Thornton

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275980016
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/30/2005
Pages:	190
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

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.

Table of Contents

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

Editorial Reviews

Thornton has written a brief overview of the role of US presidents during the Cold War. He devotes one chapter to each leader from FDR to George H. W. Bush, briefly discussing their own military experiences (or lack thereof) and focusing on their decision-making styles. Although the presidents differed in the ways they made decisions, all from Truman forward operated under the broad Cold War consensus that posited a need to prevent the spread of communism. Especially interesting is the chapter on Gerald Ford, to whom Thornton gives high marks for not trying to reintervene in the Vietnam War and for establishing an aura of integrity and stability in the post-Watergate years….Recommended.” —Choice

“[S]omewhat unsettling but ringing with truth: university presidents' careers rise and fall in cycles, but those tough enough to take it seem to enjoy the ride.” —Reference & Research Book News

From the Publisher