Customer Reviews

Architects of Power: Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and the American Century (Brief Encounters)

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Phil Terzian's pointillist portraits of FDR and Eisnhower are riveting in and of themselves. They are a model of great learning lightly worn (check out the frightening bibliography). But they are also directly applicable to today's foreign policy dilemmas. When Terzian writes, "The stated reasons for American participation in World War I ..were legitimate, to be sure, but they failed to define any fundamental American interest in the war's outcome", he might be writing about Afghanistan today. When he says, "Pearl Harbor...exploded the notion that self-sufficiency and generous impulses were sufficient to defend America" he might be talking of another more recent surprise attack on the U.S.. None of this is heavy handed or partisan, and Terzian has a magical gift for making his ideological points persuasively and with exemplary civility. A small gem.

A glance at the book shows its explantory power.The urge to make sweeping prouncements in an age of 24/7 cable and the omnipresent internet and "sound bites" for the blagosphere obscure the undeniable fact that presidential power is NOT always about ringing pronouncements made FOR DOMESTIC-AND PARTISAN effect that may come back to haunt you.Vietnam for JFK and LBJ illustrates that.I try to focus on what the Russian call "za kulisami"-behind the scenes.This may not be perfect transparency but it is sometimes neceassary-even imperative!