Another Such Victory: President Truman and the Cold War, 1945–1953

Abstract

As the United States pursues its campaign against terrorism, it requires strong presidential leadership to define goals and interests. In many respects, the challenges facing the United States closely parallel the uncertain political environment after World War II. Despite key differences between the Cold War and current national security challenges, policy makers can draw many lessons from the Truman administration's early Cold War decisions. Arnold A. Offner's richly detailed and balanced portrait of Harry S. Truman's record in international affairs makes a significant contribution to studies of presidential leadership and American foreign policy, with important implications for U.S. actions in the twenty-first century. Offner writes that the purpose of his exhaustive analysis is “to reconsider President Truman's role in the Cold War” (p. xii). Although Truman left office in 1953 with low public approval ratings and widespread critiques of his efforts to contain Communism, his historical reputation has outstripped those initial appraisals. Presidential ratings surveys routinely rank Truman highly, in large measure because of his containment policies, especially the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. Offner presents a revisionist critique of those evaluations, questioning Truman's vision, analytical abilities, and policy choices. Drawing upon the voluminous declassified record for the early Cold War, which includes American, British, and Soviet sources, Offner argues that Truman was a “parochial nationalist who lacked the leadership to move the U.S. away from conflict and toward détente” (p. 470).