America's Rasputin: Walt Rostow and the Vietnam War - Brossura

Milne, David

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0374531625 ISBN 13: 9780374531621

Casa editrice: Hill and Wang, 2009

Riassunto

David Milne's America's Rasputin provides the first major study of the man who pushed two presidents into Vietnam.

Walt Rostow's meteoric rise to power—from Flatbush, Brooklyn, to the West Wing of the White House—seemed to capture the promise of the American dream. Hailing from humble origins, Rostow became an intellectual powerhouse: a professor of economic history at MIT and an influential foreign policy adviser to John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.

Too influential, according to some. While Rostow inspired respect and affection, he also made some powerful enemies. Averell Harriman, one of America's most celebrated diplomats, described Rostow as "America's Rasputin" for the unsavory influence he exerted on presidential decision-making. Rostow was the first to advise Kennedy to send U.S. combat troops to South Vietnam and the first to recommend the bombing of North Vietnam. He framed a policy of military escalation, championed recklessly optimistic reporting, and then advised LBJ against pursuing a compromise peace with North Vietnam.

David Milne examines one man's impact on the United States' worst-ever military defeat. It is a portrait of good intentions and fatal misjudgments. A true ideologue, Rostow believed that it is beholden upon the United States to democratize other nations and do "good," no matter what the cost. America's Rasputin explores the consequences of this idealistic but unyielding dogma.

Su questo libro

Informazioni sull?autore

David Milne is a lecturer in American politics at the University of East Anglia. America's Rasputin is his first book.

Dettagli dell'edizione

• Editore: Hill and Wang
• Data di pubblicazione: 2009
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0374531625
• ISBN 13: 9780374531621
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero edizione: 1
• Numero di pagine: 336
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile
• Persona responsabile: gpsr@libri.de; gpsr@libri.de; ; Europaallee 1; Bad Hersfeld; 36244; Germania