Customer Reviews

Act of Creation: The Founding of the United Nations

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I enjoyed this book immensely! It kept my interest from the time you learn of Roosevelt's death to Truman's speech at the inauguration of the United Nations. You learn about some of Roosevelt's thoughts on the need for the UN. Most importantly you learn about the true architects of the UN charter. You learn of the people involved and the opposing viewpoints that shaped the language of the charter. It is not a stuffy book nor a read with big words. It is a down to earth, straight forward review of the UN's beginning. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in world politics.

Act Of Creation: A Story Of Superpowers, Secret Agents, Wartime Allies And Enemies And Their Quest For A Peaceful World by Stephen C. Schlesinger (former speech writer and foreign policy advisor to New York Governor Mario Cuomo), is an informed and informative study of the foundation of the United Nations, and diverse nations (some who had been formally hostile to one another during the horrific years of World War II) came together in their struggle to create a world where nations settled their difference in discussion rather than on the battlefield. An in-depth and detailed saga of nations and individuals, closely researched in accordance with an impeccable scholarship, and superbly organized for contemporary readers, Act Of Creation is a welcome contribution to Political History reference collections and International Studies reading lists.

This book takes the reader through the San Francisco conference that established the United Nations (UN) and shows how the organization came into being. This is not meant to serve as a history of the UN and it does not take a position on whether it is good or bad. It merely discusses the differences that the nations had in the big power arena and focuses on a couple of the bigger disputes. The decision to add Belarus and Ukraine to the delegation but not Poland is explored as well as what to do with Argentina. The Truman administration inherited a tough war and an even tougher peace. The United Nations framework was built on the Yalta agreements which Truman was not even at. Sttennius and his state department team would be the real victors with the establishment of the UN despite Truman's desire to install a new secretary of state. The book has several areas where the language is unclear and it is hard to follow the authors point but largely it is well done and good analysis. The author knows his subject well and it is an excellent look at how diplomatic history should be done. If you really want to learn about how the UN was started this is the book to use.

If your answer to the title of this review is YES, so you should buy this book. I just got it a few days ago and i can't stop reading it. It's amaizing how the author tells all the story behind the creation of the UN. Specially all the effort of FDR to gather some of the most powerful nations in wartime. If you belive in the values of the united nations, so you would like to know who its fathers are.

A very readable account of the building of the structure of the U.N. at San Francisco in May-June 1945.

The strength of this book is in the presentation of the diverse personalities involved. Truman, Edward Stettinius, Leo Pasvolsky, Arthur Vandenberg (a Republican), Nelson Rockefeller, Vyacheslav Molotov of the Soviet Union and more are introduced. Each was strongly motivated in desiring a U.N. And they wanted it done before the Second World War was over; Roosevelt and Truman learned from the mistakes of Woodrow Wilson who waited until after the Great War was over to begin constructing the League of Nations. Also both Roosevelt and Truman brought Republican involvement in this development and the Republicans participated at San Francisco. There was also a tremendous publicity campaign within the U.S. that brought Americans on board for the U.N. Truman wanted to ensure that there was no apathy in his country about the U.N.

The building of the framework - basically the wording of the U.N. constitution or charter - was largely a U.S. initiative. Roosevelt made sure that Stalin was to be a participant at Yalta. Nevertheless the Soviets were constantly questioning and objecting to various aspects of the U.N. Charter. The writing of the U.N. Charter was done by the Americans. It was begun at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington D.C. In San Francisco all countries participating met to finalize the Charter. It took over two months of haggling to accomplish this. The success can be credited to the American team headed by Edward Stettinius. Sadly Stettinius's name is not even mentioned in the U.N. building in New York.

Schlesinger gives us a good overview of the impetus for and process of creating the UN. There are some interesting, provocative events told in this story, but I finished the book thinking the story could (should) have been more interesting. That said, it was a decent, consistent read--a good case study in "getting to 'yes'".

What is missing from American readers is an ability to read between the lines, and a state of denial of where this world is heading. Why do Democrats try to portray the need for the UN? They condition us to think the sky will fall without their "international" support. Did you know that America abandoned China, refusing even to sell them weapons, all the while, they were being taken over by the communists who control china today, and were members of the U.N. while the nationalists China were removed from membership. I think the best thing this country could do is leave the U.N.
Read the book "The Insiders: Architects of the New World Order" for a real education. Or "None Dare Call it Conspiracy."
if can't find here, try ebay.