Amazon.com
This warm biography of Harry Truman is both an historical evaluation of his presidency and a paean to the man's rock-solid American values. Truman was a compromise candidate for vice president, almost an accidental president after Roosevelt's death 12 weeks into his fourth term. Truman's stunning come-from-behind victory in the 1948 election showed how his personal qualities of integrity and straightforwardness were appreciated by ordinary Americans, perhaps, as McCullough notes, because he was one himself. His presidency was dominated by enormously controversial issues: he dropped the atomic bomb on Japan, established anti-Communism as the bedrock of American foreign policy, and sent U.S. troops into the Korean War. In this winner of the 1993 Pulitzer Prize, McCullough argues that history has validated most of Truman's war-time and Cold War decisions.
Book Description
Hailed by critics as an American masterpiece, David McCullough's sweeping biography of Harry S. Truman captured the heart of the nation. The life and times of the thirty-third President of the United States, Truman provides a deeply moving look at an extraordinary, singular American.
From Truman's small-town, turn-of-the-century boyhood and his transforming experience in the face of war in 1918, to his political beginnings in the powerful Pendergast machine and his rapid rise to prominence in the U.S. Senate, McCullough shows a man of uncommon vitality and strength of character. Here too is a telling account of Truman's momentous decision to use the atomic bomb and the weighty responsibilities that he was forced to confront on the dawning of a new age.
Distinguished historian and Pulitzer-Prize-winning author David McCullough tells one of the greatest American stories in this stirring audio adaptation of Truman -- a compelling, classic portrait of a life that shaped history.
Download Description
The life of Harry S. Truman is one of the greatest of American stories, filled with vivid characters -- Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, Eleanor Roosevelt, Bess Wallace Truman, George Marshall, Joe McCarthy, and Dean Acheson -- and dramatic events. In this riveting biography, acclaimed historian David McCullough not only captures the man -- a more complex, informed, and determined man than ever before imagined -- but also the turbulent times in which he rose, boldly, to meet unprecedented challenges. The last president to serve as a living link between the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries, Truman's story spans the raw world of the Missouri frontier, World War I, the powerful Pendergast machine of Kansas City, the legendary Whistle-Stop Campaign of 1948, and the decisions to drop the atomic bomb, confront Stalin at Potsdam, send troops to Korea, and fire General MacArthur. Drawing on newly discovered archival material and extensive interviews with Truman's own family, friends, and Washington colleagues, McCullough tells the deeply moving story of the seemingly ordinary "man from Missouri" who was perhaps the most courageous president in our history.
Customer Reviews:
Give 'em hell Harry.......2007-10-03
In the middle of WW2, when Harry Truman became
president, people wondered how such an ordinary
man could ever become president: "If Harry Truman can be president,
so could my next door neighbor. ".
But as David McCulloughs wonderful Truman biography
explains - there is absolutely nothing wrong about
a "common man" becoming president. Quoting
Senator Adlai Stevenson: "The 'lesson' of Trumans life,
was a lesson about ourselves. An object lesson in
the vitality of popular government; an example of
the society to yield up, from the unremarkable origins,
the most remarkable man".
From sunday school and own reading of the Bible
Harry Truman knew many passages by heart:
"Ye are the salt of the Earth.. Let your light so shine
before men, that they may seee your good works."
and prayers like:
"Oh! Almighty and Everlasting God, creator of heaven,
Earth and Universe:
Help me to be, to think, to act what is right, because it is right,
make me truthful, honest and honerable in all things;
make me intellectually honest for the sake of right and
honor and without thought of reward to me. Give me
the ability to be charitable, forgiving and patient with
my fellowmen - help me to understand their motives and
their shortcomings - even as Thou understandest
mine! Amen."
What is more - for what we can gather from McCulloughs
biography - Harry Truman actually believed and lived by these words.
Combined with his midwestern belief in the values
of the farmer - Following Thomas Jefferson belief
in a nation of farmers - In Harry Trumans words: "
.. as long as a country
is one of that kind, people are independent
and make better citizens. When it is made up of
factories and large cities, it soon becomes depressed
and makes classes among people. ".
- he was placed in a world that was anything
but simple. But a world that was in absolute need
of his values and judgement.
Trouble never far away. His wife Bess' father kills
himself age 43, by putting a gun to his head, leaving behind
4 children. No reason given, except a drinking problem.
Harry Trumans father not that good with money -
more or less resulting in no college for bright Harry,
but 10 years of hard work on the farm instead.
Only escape - even with very poor eyesight - to
WW1 France and war horrors. Home again he marries
sweetheart Bess. And opens a business that fails
in 1922. Leaving him broke and strapped for money for 20 years,
Eventually he enters politics - settles as a local Missouri judge,
when fortune offers him to run as a US senator - a race which he surprisingly wins 2 times. And in 1944 Chicago Convention democratic bosses selects Truman as Vp candidate. Ambassadorships and postermaster
jobs etc. promised around to make the deal go through.
However corrupt some of this might seem - somehow
it doesn't cling to the man who is then elected VP -
but escapes intact.
So much so as when asked about his feelings about the
current president Roosevelt - Harry Truman answers
(obviously not in public) that he has only
one objection - that he lies.
When Roosevelt dies an old man age 63. Truman
takes over - a young man of 60. With the remark
to reporters : "Boys if you pray, pray for me now.".
With WW2 still on he offers the 48 presidency to Eisenhower.
But still he is the one to make the decisions.
And he does nuke Japan - making historians
remember that he did use the "n-word" and was
not respectful towards chinese back home in Missouri.
Still, in Trumans mind that was the only way to stop
the war in east without another million dead american soldiers.
And he was happy about the decision.
With the Berlin crisis, Korean war there was no lack of problems.
And yet reporters remark that everyday "is a mothers
day in White House under Truman" with a president who never
fails to call back to see how things are back home on the farm.
Against all odds he is re-elected president in 48.
With the backing of fellow democrats Lauren Bacall,
Humphrey Bogart and Ronald Reagan (later to become a republican).
standing for a government for the people and
against special interest.
When MacArthur threathens to go for all out war with the chinese
in Korea he is fired by Truman, telling the world
that civilian leadership is above military leadership.
He is always well composed - when assassins from Puerto Rico
tries to kill him and all leading newspapers
are certain that he will loose. Except when a music
critic says his singing daughter is no good. Then he explodes.
Making the picture perfect of Harry the man, who became
president.
A real person.
Personally I was amazed when I visited his home in
Independence, Missouri in 2002 - that it was actually the home
of Harry Truman the president. It somehow seemed to humble.
After reading the McCullough book I see it was not.
How amazing. And how amazing the thing called democracy is.
"Give 'em hell, Harry" a spectator said in the 48 campaign for presidency,
and you see why!
-Simon
Outstanding.......2007-09-23
A great read about the man and times. Truman made some of the toughest calls to date about WW II, Korea, MacArthur, etc. This is a good jump off point to learn more about the times and other great figures of the day like Churchill and Marshall.
Fantastic.......2007-09-21
Harry Truman the man, the myth - this book has it all. This is a wonderfully written biography that gets at every aspect of Truman. From his boyhood in Missouri to his rise through the political ranks David McCullough does not dissapoint with his book on the former president.
A must read as a companion to any serious study on World War I, II and Korea - Truman's life touches all these conflicts as a soldier and leader. This is a great biography and I highly recommend it. JVD
Triumph of tireless sleuthing and attention.......2007-09-12
After spending pretty much the course of the summer reading David McCullough's immense biography of Harry S. Truman, I must say that was time well spent. For the first time, I have a largely intact understanding of not only Truman's life and times, but of the forces and events that shaped him and the United States as well. Though Truman's term as president ended the year I was born, the decisions and actions taken by our 33rd president and his staff have reverberated throughout my own life.
One need not pile on with any more plaudits or adjectives for the author or his biography for at this point I think everything has been stated. But what is most striking to me is just how much the world has changed since Truman's presidency and how our current crop of politicians are even more vile and odious than the worst of the lot in Truman's day. Reading about a man who strove to achieve the greater good rather than let his decisions be tempered by political motivations proved both startling and refreshing.
McCullough may have burnished Truman's character with a bit more shine and polish than fitting the man himself, but he does not neglect Truman's flaws or humanity, which, in turn, makes this book more compelling. The vivid, memorable characters who play key roles in the story of Truman infuse this historical account with energy and realism and also elevate Truman's character and person. The details contained in this book, both their quantity and quality, require close attention and rereading, a testament to Mr. McCullough's tireless sleuthing and attention.
Let's hope for everyone's sake that a similarly powerful, elegant biography of an American president will someday appear to take its place on the shelf beside this one.
Exceptionally Poor Quality For Papareback Binding .......2007-08-23
The book was great, and the author was most worthy of the Pulitzer Prize award for his work. However, the binding was exceptionally poor. Given the 1,100+ pages of the book, this paperback needs to be bound in a different fashion. The book completely fell apart during my reading of it, as large sections of pages fell out of it. I did not subject the book to any harsh treatment or unusual wear, and it simply fell apart under normal reading conditions.
Book Description
Historic Union Station means nothing to the elderly man speeding south on the last lap of what will turn out to be a one-way journey from Tel Aviv to D.C. - on a train that will soon land him at Gate A-8 and, moments later, at St. Peter's Gate. This weary traveler, whose terminal destination is probably hell, is Louis Russo, former mob hit man and government informer. Two men are at the station to meet him. One is Richard Marienthal, a young writer whose forthcoming book is based on Russo's life. The other is the man who'll kill him.
Russo has returned to help promote Marienthal's book, which, although no one has been allowed to read it, already has some people shaking in their Gucci boots. Those in power fear that the contents will expose not only organized crime's nefarious business but also a top-secret assignment abroad that Russo once masterminded for a very-high-profile Capitol Hill client. As news of Russo's murder rockets from the MPD to the FBI and the CIA, from Congress to the West Wing, the final chapter of the story begins its rapid-fire unfolding.
In addition to the bewildered Marienthal and his worried girlfriend, Murder at Union Station features an array of memorable characters: rock-ribbed right-wing Senator Karl Widmer; ruthless New York publisher Pamela Warren; boozy MPD Detective Bret Mullin; shoe-shine virtuoso Joe Jenks; dedicated presidential political adviser Chet Fletcher; and President Adam Parmele himself - not to mention freelance snoops, blow-dried climbers, and a killer or two. There's no place like the nation's capital, and as her myriad fans know, Margaret Truman always gets it right. Murder at Union Station is a luxury express, nonstop delight.
Download Description
When Washington’s splendid Union Station opened its doors in 1908, the glorious structure epitomized capital stylishness. Today, restored and refurbished, the station is again a hub of activity where the world’s most famous and infamous people meet—and often collide. Now, in Margaret Truman’s new Capital Crime novel, this landmark locale becomes the scene of a sensational shooting whose consequences ricochet from seedy bars to the halls of Congress.
Historic Union Station means nothing to the elderly man speeding south on the last lap of what turns out to be a one-way journey from Tel Aviv to D.C.—on a train that will soon land him at Gate A-8 and, moments later, at St. Peter’s Gate. This weary traveler, whose terminal destination is probably hell, is Louis Russo, former mob hit man and government informer. Two men are at the station to meet him. One is Richard Marienthal, a young writer whose forthcoming book is based on Russo’s life. The other is the man who kills him.
Russo has returned to help promote Marienthal’s book, which, although no one has been allowed to read it, already has some people shaking in their Gucci boots. The powerful fear the contents will not only expose organized crime’s nefarious business, but also a top-secret assignment abroad that Russo once masterminded for a very-high-profile Capitol Hill client. As news of Russo’s murder rockets from the MPD to the FBI and the CIA, from Congress to the West Wing, the final chapter of the story begins its rapid-fire unfolding.
In addition to the bewildered Marienthal and his worried girlfriend, there is an array of memorable characters: rock-ribbed right-wing Senator Karl Widmer; ruthless New York publisher Pamela Warren; boozy MPD Detective Bret Mullin; shoe-shine virtuoso Joe Jenks; dedicated presidential political adviser Chet Fletcher; and President Adam Parmele himself—not to mention freelance snoops, blow-dried climbers, and a killer or two. There’s no place like the nation’s capital, and as her myriad fans know, Margaret Truman always gets it right. Murder at Union Station is a luxury express, nonstop delight.
Customer Reviews:
I REALLY LIKED THIS ONE.......2007-02-10
This is the second book that I have read my Ms. Truman and I enjoyed it a bunch. It's about a writer and a hit man returning from Israel who is gunned down who was helping to promote the book. I love the characters and the story. It really kept me intrigued. I can't wait to read more from her. She is a great mystery writer and I hope that she continues to write more great books.
One of Truman's Best.......2006-07-04
I have been reading Margaret Truman for nearly 15 years now and I love her mysteries set in Washington, D.C. She has an excellent way of capturing the all of the politics and intrigue that the city has to offer. Her characters are well-researched and it is easy to escape for hours into one of her plots.
Murder is Reading This Book!.......2006-03-30
This book is about a former mafioso in the witness protection program living in exile in Israel. He agrees to be the subject of a tell-all book. When he comes back to the U.S. to testify regarding details that could shake the U.S. government, he is murdered and the author of the book is trying to find out why he was murdered. The book drags and the plot is found wanting.
It's teh Stoopid!.......2006-03-10
I listened to the first chapter on audio and could feel those precious IQ points dribbling out my ears. The writing is so pretentious and the editing so not there, I found myself wishing ALL of these characters could die very slow and painful deaths, being force-fed chicken nuggets at the subterranean food court at Union Station.
Insider's view of Washington D.C........2005-08-26
Margaret Truman knows enough about the inner workings of the U.S. Government to make her Capital Crimes Novels ring true. In this installment, a young writer named Richard Marienthal is eagerly looking forward to the publication of his novel which chronicles the revelations of a mob hit man named Russo. Russo comes to Washington D.C. to testify at some hearings, but before he reveals anything, he is murdered. Russo's information, which is also described in Marienthal's book, is potentially very damaging to the incumbent U.S. President, and to organized crime. For Marienthal and his friends, it's hard to know who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. Marienthal still possesses the tapes which he used to write the book and he realizes that he and the tapes are in danger from several different people. Not wishing to risk his life or that of his fiance, he has to make some difficult choices. This is a good book and has a reasonable amount of suspense and intrigue. The ending seems a bit too neat and sudden, but all in all, it is a good read.
Book Description
"An exciting romp."
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS
During a gala benefit for a Democratic Party hopeful, a young woman dies, the victim of quick and brutal violence. The murder weapon belongs to the candidate, Kenneth Ewald, and his son is the chief suspect. Out of the classroom comes professor Mac Smith to tackle a case that is bad for the senator, but may prove disastrous for the nation....
From the Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
It's fun to compare with current politicians as well!.......2002-08-10
...
Margaret Truman has woven together her knowledge of Washington
politics and a great mystery in "Murder at the Kennedy Center."
And she sure knows how to interweave a complicated plot. As soon
as Mac agrees to take a ace, he runs into countless problems:
Senator Ewald, it seems, has not be as...
his political supporters might believe; ...Soon a South American dictator and a
conservative evangelist muddy the waters even more.
As Mac delves deeper into the mystery, he learns more about his
friend than perhaps he had wanted to know. In a short period of
time, he has a long list of suspects!
Truman has done an excellent job of creating vivid characters and
developing a plot that will keep you alert. She has also managed
to mirror a number of contemporary politicians and headlines in
this novel; I think you'll have fun deciding who is being
modeled.
I actually kinda liked this one........2000-08-26
Yeah, I still have the same old gripes about Truman's overall writing style (or lack thereof), but they've lessened in intensity now that she's found in Mac Smith a decent sleuth. Too bad I know it won't last. (See my review for Murder in the Pentagon.)
Combines murder and political intrique.......2000-07-16
The description of a Democratic party gala is described with the intimacy of one who has actually attended such an affair. It is for this reason that the reader trusts the author in the other relevant portions of the plotting and structure of this well-told tale of mayhem in our nation's capital. This is a fine addition to the author's stunning series of mystery novels using the backdrop of the great institutions of Washington, D. C.
Thoroughly enjoyable.......1999-09-27
I've just discovered Margaret Truman and am enjoying every minute of her writing. Not only does she write a good mystery but she entices me with her detailed descriptions of life in Washington D.C. Mac and Annabelle are becoming "good friends". I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.
This was another of Truman's great books!!.......1999-06-22
This was another of Truman's great books!! The action of was continues though out the whole book and it was a wonderful book!
Amazon.com
In Cold Blood was a groundbreaking work when released in 1966. With it, author Truman Capote contributed to a style of writing in which the reporter gets so far inside the subject, becomes so familiar, that he projects events and conversations as if he were really there. The style has probably never been accomplished better than in this book. Capote combined painstaking research with a narrative feel to produce one of the most spellbinding stories ever put on the page. Two two-time losers living in a lonely house in western Kansas are out to make the heist of their life, but when things don't go as planned, the robbery turns ugly. From there, the book is a real-life look into murder, prison, and the criminal mind.
Book Description
On November 15, 1959, in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas, four members of the Clutter family were savagely murdered by blasts from a shotgun held a few inches from their faces. There was no apparent motive for the crime, and there were almost no clues.
Five years, four months and twenty-nine days later, on April 14, 1965, Richard Eugene Hickock, aged thirty-three, and Perry Edward Smith, aged thirty-six, were hanged from the crime on a gallows in a warehouse in the Kansas State Penitentiary in Lansing, Kansa.
In Cold Blood is the story of the lives and deaths of these six people. It has already been hailed as a masterpiece.
Download Description
With the publication of this book, Capote permanently ripped through the barrier separating crime reportage from serious literature. As he reconstructs the 1959 murder of a Kansas farm family and the investigation that led to the capture, trial, and execution of the killers, Capote generates suspense and empathy.
Customer Reviews:
it came very quickly from when I ordered it.......2007-10-21
I ordered it for my 21 yr. old son and he really enjoyed it. Learned alot aobut the times.
Too cluttered.......2007-10-14
The violent murders of Herbert and Bonnie Clutter and their two youngest children: Nancy and Kenyon in 1959 became a media sensation as these violent crimes are wont to do. Inspired by a 300 word summary of the crime in the New York Times, Capote and long time friend Harper Lee headed west to interview everyone associated with the crime. The result of six year's work was In Cold Blood.
Reading the book clarified in my mind just how well I still remember the film and confirmed that I still am not a fan of true-crime (or the nonfiction novel as Capote called his book). The work is well researched and well written but it wasn't a page-turner for me.
The book suffers from an information overload and a lack of organization. Capote seems lost under all these witness testimonies, not sure what to keep, what to cut and where to put things. Things stumble along in a more or less chronological order but without the benefit of logical segues between interviews.
Quite Cold, Indeed.......2007-10-06
It is a testament to Truman Capote's ability that he was able to take a small yet disturbing blurb in the New York Times and not only write a compelling book about it, but create a new literary form, the nonfiction novel, and also turn the story into an American classic. IN COLD BLOOD fully deserves the accolades that have been heaped upon it since its publication.
That newspaper blurb, of course, was about the mysterious murders of the Clutter family (father Herbert, mother Bonnie, and teenagers Nancy and Kenyon) in the small, isolated town of Holcomb, Kansas. At first, it was unclear why the family had been slaughtered and it was thought to be the work of a psychopathic killer. That such psychopathy flared up in America's heartland made the story all the more disturbing. After all, everyone knows all the weirdos and lunatics were supposed to live in New York or San Francisco. To think that they were right in our midst...
Capote's detailed (and controversial!) studies of the murders take us so deep into the story it is like we were really there. Using the techniques of fiction and applying them to a non-fiction story, Capote brings the real life tragedy to life a second time around. This is particularly disturbing with respect to the two men who committed the crime, Dick Hickock and Perry Smith. IN COLD BLOOD probably is the first book of its kind to give the readers such an accurate portrait into the minds and personalities of such brutal killers.
What strikes the reader hard is that, of the two criminals, it is the actual trigger man, Perry Smith, who is the more tender and emotionally vulnerable. That Dick Hickock seems, by every measure imaginable, to be a harsher person than his compatriot is juxtaposed powerfully with Hickock's own complaints that he is the only person on death row who did not actually kill anyone. We now know, of course, that Capote developed some type of emotional relationship with Perry Smith while researching the book and so it is up to the reader to determine how much this might have clouded Capote's judgment and writings on him.
Despite the bleakness of the story, IN COLD BLOOD is written in a very feminine and flowery style. If Capote's homosexuality were not widely known, one could almost assume as much by this. Again, this creates a jarring juxtaposition for the reader, as he is confronted with the darkest corners of depravity.
Anyone who visits the true crime section of a bookstore is confronted with books basically reeking of schlock. A good writer, however, can turn the average, or even below average, subject and elevate it to new heights. This is what Truman Capote did. IN COLD BLOOD is very cold, indeed.
Read the book before the movie!.......2007-10-05
This was a wonderful book, but I made the mistake of seeing the movie and then I had a biased. I enjoyed this.
Capote's Masterpiece Is Full Of Thrills, Suspense, And Incredible Prose.......2007-09-24
When Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" was published in 1966, it became an international bestseller and was lauded by the critics. Now, over forty years later, "In Cold Blood" remains the crowning achievemt of Capote's career as a writer. Capote's skill as a journalist and natural talent as a writer combine to create the definitive American true crime book. Whether you prefer nonfiction or fiction, Capote's true account of mass murder and it's consequences is sure to please!
Book Description
arrie Mayer and Collette Cahill are fast friends who move in fast circles. When Barrie turns up dead in London, Collette has reason to suspect murder. Chasing down Barrie's killers in a hunt that twists and turns around the globe, Collette uncovers a plot that may well lead to her own death. 2 cassettes.
Customer Reviews:
Mediocre read.......2002-08-09
This is the first book I've read by Margaret Truman and I had high hopes. The book did not live up to those hopes. I found the book easy to put down and forget, the plot and characters didn't hold my interest and....kiss of death....the ending didn't make my heart race or send even a single chill down my spine. When I read a good book, I tend to get lost in that book - I forget that I'm READING a book. I never got that feeling with this book. I was always just reading.
Maybe I've come to expect too much since devouring Michael Connelly, Nelson DeMille and David Baldacci.
The best I can say is that it wasn't a totally boring read, just mediocre.
Better than Ludlum, but Truman is no LeCarre..........2001-12-27
This book is just the thing for a long plane flight, or a series of quiet evenings at home. Its strongest point is excellent plotting. The character development and scene-setting seemed a bit thin to me. Unlike the Smiley series by LeCarre, the writing seems much more commercial -- and it is hard to really feel (and intensely care about) the characters. (There are the usual romantic/sexual/love interests stirred in, but they seem superficial, reflecting Collette Cahill's shallow personality.) On the other hand, Truman's characters outshine Ludlum's stickmen; hers seem like real people (though just acquaintances, not friends). On excellent attribute of 'Murder in the CIA' is that one doesn't know who the 'bad guys' and the 'goods guys' are until just before the end of the tale. I would strongly suggest that readers who don't want to lose track of everyone really should keep a pad to jot down the names of each of the characters. This 303-page potboiler brings in quite a large cast, and many of them are important to the plot. This book was written during the Cold War, and younger readers may have some trouble connecting with the anti-Communist motivations behind a lot of the action. Also some of the devices (post-hypnotic recollections, for example) seem both contrived and dated. Things have changed a lot since 1987. --- In short, 'Murder in the CIA' is not great literature, but it is a fun read.
the queen stays unbeaten when it comes to murder........2001-11-20
Who did it? ask the president's daughter. She can simply say who is the murder. Great suspense. Wonderful characters to get along with. You will not want to stop reading any of her books. I wanna read 2 more of her books. The queen stays unbeaten.
The queen of mystery in DC is back.......2001-06-06
She did a great job in this book I simply could not put it down! Great suspense and a dry sense of humor go a long way in these great mysreries. who did assk the President's Daughtewr she knows. Great all the way!
Couldn't Put it Down!.......2000-08-13
This was my first read in the Capitol Crimes Series, and it won't be my last. While being an easy read, it wasn't too easy that I became bored and lost interest. The main character was someone I could relate to, and have sympathy for . It was very surprising who were the good guys and who were the bad guys. This is a good escape book, better than TV in my opinion.
Book Description
As Margaret Truman knows from firsthand experience, living in the White House can be exhilarating and maddening, alarming and exhausting, but it is certainly never dull. Part private residence, part goldfish bowl, and part national shrine, the White House is both the most important address in America and the most intensely scrutinized.
In The President's House, Margaret Truman takes us behind the scenes as she reveals what it feels like to live in the White House. Here are hilarious stories of Teddy Roosevelt's rambunctious children tossing spitballs at presidential portraits and a heartbreaking account of the tragedy that befell President Coolidge's young son John. Here, too, is the real story of the Lincoln Bedroom - as well as the thrilling narrative of how first lady Dolley Madison rescued the priceless portrait of George Washington and a copy of the Declaration of Independence before British soldiers torched the White House in 1814.
Today the 132-room White House operates as an exotic combination of first-class hotel and fortress, with 1600 dedicated workers and an annual budget over $1 billion. But ghosts of the past still walk the august corridors, including the phantom whose visit President Harry S. Truman described to his daughter in eerie detail. From the basement swarming with reporters to the "Situation Room" crammed with sophisticated technology to the Oval Office where the President receives the world's leaders, the White House is a beehive of relentless activity, deal-making, intrigue, gossip, and, of course, history in the making.
Customer Reviews:
Very Informative and Entertaining.......2006-03-11
I listened to the Audio CD version of this book.
In terms of strong historical value, there is not a lot to this book. It really is pretty fluffy in its tone and approach. Margaret Truman is a credible source however and she does make it very entertaining to listen to.
The organization is interesting. The language is conversational. You'll come away with better knowledge of the White House, its residence and our Nations History.
A fun and insightful read.... .......2004-08-06
While Margaret Truman isn't on the same level as Ken Burns, Shelby Foote or other historians her books are a fun read. Who better to tell you about the White House than someone whose parents spent seven years in residence (although due to renovations it was not technically seven years - they spent some time at the Blair House).
She crafts a nice balance between telling you little known stories about the former first families while sprinkling in her opinions; much like a chef would throw a dash of spice into a recipe. One of the most pleasant surprises is that she is bi-partisan in her narrative. If she is wry in her observations about some of the first families, it is based more on her observations of character rather than party loyalty. She speaks glowingly of some of the Republican inhabitants - most notably the Coolidges.
I definitely recommend this book for those who love historical trivia. Plus much of the reading material (White House pets for example)can be shared with kids for those times that you'd like bedtime reading to be a little more stimulating than "Captain Underpants" or "The Day my Butt went Psycho"
Inside the White House by a Famous First Daughter.......2004-03-04
Margaret Truman is, of course, the daughter of President Harry Truman and his wife Bess. She is the most prolific writing child of any American Chief Executiv. Margaret Truman has written several mysteries and histories about life in Washington which are written in a popular style easy to understand and enjoy.
As Ms. Truman opens the door to our White House she lets us discover the fascinating men and women who have lived at 1600
Pennyslvania Avenue. She discusses such various topics as:
1. White House Weddings.
2. Relations between the Presidents and the Media
3. The Children of Presidents who have lived in the White House
4. White House Presidential Pets
5. The kooks and crazies who have tried (and in some cases been successful) in assasinating our chief executive.
6. She describes the growth of the White House from its first occupancy by John and Abigal Adams in 1800. The history of the White House building, grounds, gardens and additions are discussed.
7. How the routine of a White House day changed with every administration-when they awoke to what they liked for dinner!
Ms. Truman has written in a charmingly simple style which is nevertheless based on her well done historical research. This is a book anyone regardless of age or party affiliation could enjoy.
I recommend it highly!
The Story of the White House, By A Famous First Daughter.......2003-12-15
Former First Daughter Margaret Truman offers the reader an entertaining, anecdotal account of life at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Her focus is on the White House as a home, though its role as a seat of power is not neglected. As a result, you can expect to learn more here about the first wives, children, doormen, Secret Service agents, maids, gardeners, cooks and others who have lived and labored behind these famous walls..although the presidents themselves aren't entirely overlooked.
The exterior the White House presents to the world has changed little in two centuries...but the interior has been undergoing an almost constant process of destruction and renewal. We learn about the 1814 torching of the president's house by invading British troops; the addition of greenhouses, which gave way to the west wing at the beginning of the 20th century; almost constant sprees of redecoration and reconfiguring of the public and family rooms, all of which culminated in the complete reconstruction of the White House during the Truman years.
There are chapters about the rambunctious children, the unusual pets, the glamorous weddings, riotous inaugural balls and other historic events that have enlivened this historic mansion. You will get a sense of the behind-the-scenes preparation that goes into welcoming a visiting head of state or similar dignitary. There are two sections of illustrations, one in color, that further help the reader share in Truman's wonder and appreciation of this historic house.--William C. Hall
A Good Beginning. . ........2003-12-01
This book certainly reminds one of Mrs. Daniel's mysteries. I have read her various publications on her parents and I consider them to be better reads.
However, Mrs. Daniel does an excellent job of organizing her work, and the break-down of the chapters here is excellent. I didn't read the book in order, but picked the chapters in which I was most interested first!
I'm a history reader, though, and found very little in this book that was news. Save her personal recollections, I think I've seen this information elsewhere, and in greater detail. The book is very 'readable', though, and I managed to polish it off in two evenings, easily. This will likely broaden its appeal to its intended audience.
I can't say the book is a disappointment. I didn't expect a more academic volume. The expression 'history lite', used by Publisher's Weekly, is appropriate. For those who ordinarily don't read history, it will be pleasurable. For those of us who read history, a look elsewhere is recommended.
Book Description
Once it was a swamp. Now Foggy Bottom is swimming with real-estate sharks. When a man is found stabbed to death in this trendy D.C. neighborhood, it is major news. But within forty-eight hours the nation is gripped by a fear that leaves this comparatively small crime in the dark.
Three passenger planes are shot out of the sky. Everywhere - in law enforcement, in the media, and in the most secret realms of government - men and women scramble to find out who shot hand-held missiles at the planes, and why. It is a search that reaches from Moscow to the Pacific Northwest, putting some people's lives in jeopardy and turning others' lives inside out. But no one can guess the truth: that the epicenter of the terrorist outbreak is Washington D.C.... and a dead man behind a park bench in a place called Foggy Bottom.
Praise for Margaret Truman
"A first-rate mystery writer," said Charles Champlin in the Los Angeles Times
Book Review, "drawing on an I-was-there expertise that makes the Washington scene clang with credibility."
"She can write suspense with the best of them," says Larry King.
Her work is "the most satisfying sort of popular fiction, a thoughtful thriller," adds The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Customer Reviews:
After 9/11.......2007-01-23
Murder in the park across from the Lombard Hotel seems to be a case of a Canadian victim. Joe Potamos is a reporter for the WASHINGTON POST and Peter Langruth is a police officer. Max Pauling, divorced father, pilot of a small aircraft, CIA, has been relegated to filling a desk job unhappily. A small commercial airliner traveling from Westchester County, NY to Washington DC crashes. Pauling's boss wants him at work right away. Another commuter flight crashes near Boise. A third accident happens in San Jose.
The murdered man is identified as Jeremy Wilcox. He is attached to the Canadian Embassy, a trade specialist. In New York and California witnesses come forward, having seen missiles down the planes. CNN gets the nuews about the missile sightings. Max Pauling is ordered to go to Moscow.
In the past Potamus covered the State Department. He was demoted to general assignment reporter after punching a columnist. Diplomatic niceties are no longer part of his world. Languth, the police officer, and Potamus both mistrust people. Pauling, in Russia, tries to buy information. It seems the missiles came through a group in Plattsburgh via Canada. Max is sent to Langley, the Puzzle Palace, when he delivers unwelcome news.
As events unspool, the reader is carried along to the exciting end.
as always she remains the best mystery writer........2002-11-21
another great book by Margaret Truman. The beginning was a bang and the ending a climax.
Terrorists and Mass Murder of Airline Passengers.......2002-10-30
Margaret Truman's mysteries are always fun to read. They are low-key, have a minimum of gory details, and have twists to keep things interesting. This time, we have the murder of a Canadian diplomat and destruction of three commuter planes in flight, killing passengers and crew. We watch the investigation of the crimes through the eyes of a Washington Post reporter, a CIA operative, and several FBI agents. Simultaneous destruction of three planes points to terrorists, but which terrorists? When the CIA man and the reporter find the answer, the story shifts into high gear during the last 100 pages for a breathtaking ending. All in all, it's an enjoyable book for relaxation.
Interesting forewarning.......2002-04-27
In the aftermath of the September 11th tragedy, it is eerie that the same number of planes suffers similar disasters. This book is a little below par of her other books. The absence (in a crime-solving capacity) of Mac and Annabel Smith left a void in the story. The other characters were predictable and not well developed. In all, it was a good story that needed more work on the characters.
Typical Truman, but eerily prescient.......2002-04-26
If you like Margaret Truman's other "Murder ... " books, you'll like this one. If you don't, you won't.
The relatively predictable characters and writing are familiar here. The only twist is that this book is about terrorists shooting passenger planes out of the sky, which gives the reader an odd feeling after 9/11.
Truman's books are great if you're looking for something to take to the beach or read on a weekend. They're easily read and the plots are interesting enough to make them page-turners.
If you're looking for serious fiction, you'll be disappointed. But my recommendation is to enjoy Truman's books for what they are -- fun novels for when you're in the mood for a quick read.
Average customer rating:
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Accessories:
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Sony WMFX479 Walkman
ASIN: 0694515876
Release Date: 1995-08-22 |
Book Description
Derived from a television series on Truman, these rare recordings are straight from the shoulder, pithy and fascinating. Reissued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of WWII, this is an important historical work by Ben Gradus, the producer of the television series.
Book Description
Read by Philip Bosco
2 cassettes / 3 hours
When Annabel Smith is commissioned to write an article on Columbus for the Library of Congress's magazine, Civilization, she enters a world of art and information, politics and prestige, patronage and shadowy traffic in rare manuscripts--and, as it turns out, violence. A center of intellectual life, the Library of Congress is home to millions of invaluable books, manuscripts, and maps, and to some of the world's leading librarians and scholars. So when a world-reknowned expert is found murdered at his desk, the Library's reputation is at stake.
Has a legendary diary by one of Columbus's companions really turned up? Why did, eight years earlier, another of the library's Hispanic scholars disappear under mysterious circumstances? Annabel, Margaret Truman's favorite amateur sleuth, wants answers to these questions.
Like all of her Capital Crime novels, Truman's Murder at the Library of Congress takes the listener deep into the hidden recesses of Washington D.C. and this time into one of its most cherished institutions, bringing us closer to the fascinating, and exciting people who make that peculiar city work, live, and die.
Customer Reviews:
Good concept.......2005-06-07
Murder at the Library of Congress by Margaret Truman is one of the Capital Crimes novel series. Annabel Lee, an ex-lawyer and a new art gallery owner, is invited to do an article over the long-lost Las Casas diaries in a magazine. Annabel, deciding to do the article, goes to the Library of Congress where she meets with Consuela, head of the Hispanic and Portuguese division, to find all the materials she needs to write the article. In between researching, she meets and interviews Michele Paul, a rude historian who has been trying to find the Las Casas diaries for years. His murder later that night puts a bump in Annabel Lee's plan to interview him some more and creates a whole new oppurtunity to investigate Paul's murder.
Truman's mystery novel is not one of mystery, as the plot shows indirectly who the murderer is and why this person murdered Michele Paul. Although not surprising, it is a let down at the end of the book when you find out that the person you were expecting murdered Michele Paul, really did murder him. Another thing that was destroyed in this book was word play. Whenever Truman used a popular saying that virtually everybody knows, she added either after or before the character said it "As the saying goes." Although not important, it makes the story a little less real and choppier as well. One good thing, however, is that the characters Truman used may not be like regular people, but are interesting and they keep you reading to see what happens to them in the end. The concept of the whole story is thrilling as well.
Truman made some mistakes that were costly to the book's storyline and appeal, but that was fixed with interesting and complex characters. As a whole the book was good, but not one to be remembered as a classic.
A Bit Silly.......2005-02-22
This book is an Annabel Smith murder mystery. Annabel, a curator of a museum of pre-Columbian art, has for some reason been asked to write a feature article about Christopher Columbus for a special issue of "Civilization," the magazine of the Library of Congress. When she shows up at the Hispanic section of the library to start her 2 months of research for the article, she meets a cast of characters, some nice, and some not-so-nice. Meanwhile, a second-rate painting of Columbus is stolen from an art museum in Miami. Is there a connection from the heist to the Library? There must be, or else this story would be dead in the water. Clues like a fellow researcher at the Library turning up dead draw Annabel into the investigation.
This is the kind of mystery in which the author lets us know the whereabouts and thoughts of everyone, including the bad guys, as we go along. She tells us up front 80%-90% of who is involved in the suspicious activities, so the real suspense is in waiting to see if Annabel will solve the mystery before it's too late, and in seeing how the pieces of the plot-line are finally all tied together. Though the story is told coherently, the details are far from realistic. It's hard to picture librarians and researchers with the personalities that Truman describes. Yes, academics can be a motley bunch of interesting people, but I've never met any who act like this. Truman has the Library intern working on a long-term project of cataloging 15 Cuban newspapers, hardly the work of an intern. The researchers, Annabel included, go about their work like journalists rather than academics, for instance, starting their projects with interviews with other researchers, in which they hope to catch a great quote. A big deal is made of some computer disks which Annabel discovers, and spends all night reading on her computer screen-whereas any experienced computer user, especially a former lawyer, would immediately hit "Print" upon finding such material, or at the very least, make a copy to the hard drive (which Annabel's laptop apparently didn't have, back in 1997 when the story is set). Overall, I found the plot weak and predictable, the dialogue inane, and the plausibility very low. Nevertheless, the story at least hangs together and can keep one's interest for a short while.
The library is the star..........2005-01-05
One of the best parts about a Margaret Truman mystery is the insight into the Washington DC institutions that are featured in her books. Murder in the Library of Congress is no exception, and we get a fascinating look inside this venerable but widely overlooked treasure.
Former lawyer and current art gallery owner, Annabel Reed-Smith, takes a two month sabbatical from her gallery to write an article that will appear in the Library of Congress magazine, Civilization. The article will be about Columbus' friend and colleague, Bartolome' Las Casas. Reed-Smith plans to spend two months in the Library of Congress doing research for this article. Many experts believe that Las Casas kept diaries and even a treasure map from the three voyages he made with Columbus. But many people searching for these diaries have met with tragic fates. Almost as soon as Annabel arrives at the library, she discovers the body of the number one Las Casas expert in the world. Unfortunately, he's been murdered. Also, 8 years prior to this, another Las Casas expert (who also worked at the library) vanished without a trace. Annabel quickly becomes immersed in trying to solve these mysteries.
While the premise of the plot is plausible, how Annabel seems to always be at the center of things is not. She is consulted by the police, asked to examine possible clues, and kept up to date on the investigation. This is the Washington DC Metro Police, not Mayberry RFD. Also, Annabel's perfect life is just a little too nauseating.
Still, the star of this book is the Library of Congress. She gives both a thumbnail sketch of its history, as well as procedures of operation today. After reading Murder in the Library of Congress, I'll definitely put it on my list of places to visit during my next trip to Washington.
Great Mystery, Deep respect for Libraries.......2004-09-11
Murder at the Library of Congress, by Margaret Truman (November 1, 1999)
Margaret Truman continues her series of excellent murder mysteries set in well known venues in our nation's capitol.
A pre-eminent researcher on Columbus is murdered in the Library of Congress. As the plot unfolds, the number of suspects multiplies--it seems everyone wanted him dead! We learn about the black market in antiquities, and related tax scams. Drug money, violence, and multiple murders all make an appearance, as does comic relief, in the form of one of the most inept art thieves ever created--makes Inspector Cluseau look suave in comparison.
As usual, her settings are perfectly blended with her characters and plot. It is great to see a mystery writer showing deep respect for books, libraries, and the librarians who make sure the books are in the libraries (among many other tasks--if you've ever wondered what librarians do, you'll learn through this book).
The only problem was with the technology. For some reason, everyone thought it was perfectly normal for it to take hours on end to copy three computer disks--I had to check the copyright to be sure I wasn't imposing modern standards, but no, its 1999--ever since DOS it only takes a few minutes to copy five floppies. Obviously, there was something else going on, but none of the characters raised the remotest hint of suspicion. In fact, the "good guy" heroine also had to stay up all night to copy just small sections of these very same disks. Even in the good old DOS days, there was a copy disk command which would have accomplished this function in seconds, not hours!
To her credit, Truman does give us an explanation, and it ends up being the key to unlock the solution to the crime(s), but the reader knew it long before anyone in the book. I found this totally frustrating for the entire last quarter of the book.
Easy to read.......2004-06-30
I listened to part of this mystery on the second of two audio cassettes. The first cassette was defective and had been discarded by the library. So, I read the first half. The hardbound version is really nicely printed, with big print and big margins. This was my first experience with Ms. Truman. Guess what. I didn't even know she was Harry's daughter!
Truman did a good job of joining the Columbus-Las Casas angle with the mystery story. Some of the library people didn't really seem to have much character, like Sue and Consuela. Walter Munsch, one of the bad guys, was a gas. Tell me: Are you going to walk around a Mexican brothel with a couple of thousand $ cash in your pocket? Munsch did. No wonder his life span was short. How did he even live that long?
I had a hard time empathizing with Dolores, who fell in love with Michelle Paul and then murdered him. If Paul was such a jerk, and everyone else thought so, how could she have loved him? Well, I guess it didn't last, the love, that is.
Does David Driscoll get off scot free, then? It's not really clear.
Anyway, Margaret Truman is definitely worth trying out. I have another one I'm going to start soon. Probably take only a day or two to finish it, because she's easy reading. Diximus.
Amazon.com
Long before an Allied victory was assured during World War II, the Big Three--Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin--began discussing how to prevent Germany from ever again threatening the world. The fact that Germany today is a peaceful, democratic ally of the U.S. is "one of America's great twentieth-century international achievements," writes esteemed historian Michael Beschloss. How such a transformation was accomplished is the subject of The Conquerors.
Drawing on thousands of previously unreleased documents, secret audio recordings, private diaries, and other information recently made available, Beschloss details the complex diplomacy between the Allied leaders, including their differences over whether to demand Germany's unconditional surrender; how, if at all, to divide Germany after the war; and how to effectively punish Germany without creating the kind of resentment that led to the rise of Hitler. The relationship between the three leaders, and later, Truman, is fascinating, as Beschloss reveals private conversations, ulterior motives, and numerous back-channel deals that took place. Of particular interest is the maneuvering of Roosevelt and Churchill, who were both concerned that the Soviets would attempt a postwar power grab in Western Europe if given the chance. The book also deals with Roosevelt's reluctance to deal with Germany's systematic extermination of the Jews, and the role that his old friend and Treasury Secretary, Henry Morgenthau, Jr., played in pushing the President into action. After learning of the Holocaust, Morgenthau became obsessed with punishing Germany severely, drafting a plan that called for the complete destruction of their mines and factories as a way of forcing Germany into subsistence farming--ideas that put him at odds with Secretary of State Cordell Hull, Secretary of War Henry Stimson, and many others in the administration.
The Conquerors is a superbly written, if brief, treatment of the political events leading up to the defeat of Germany, with the main players brought vividly to life by Beschloss's keen eye for detail and his ability to expose the human strengths and weaknesses of the participants. --Shawn Carkonen
Book Description
From one of America's most respected historians, The Conquerors reveals one of the most important stories of World War II. As Allied soldiers fought the Nazis, Franklin Roosevelt and, later Harry Truman fought in private with Churchill and Stalin over how to ensure that Germany could never threaten the world again.
Eleven years in the writing, drawing on newly opened American, Soviet, and British documents as well as private diaries, letters and secret audio recordings, this audiobook let us eavesdrop on private conversations and telephone calls among a cast of historical giants. The Conquerors casts new light upon Roosevelt's concealment of what America knew about Hitler's war against the Jews and his foot-dragging on saving refugees; FDR's actions so shocked his closest friend in the Cabinet, Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr., that Morgenthau risked their friendship by accusing the President of "acquiescence" in the "murder of the Jews."
The Conquerors explores suspicions that Soviet secret agents manipulated Roosevelt and his official to do Stalin's bidding on Germany. It reveals new information on FDR's hidden illnesses and how they affected his leadership and his private talk about quitting his job during his fourth term and letting Henry Truman become President. Finally it shows how unprepared new President Truman managed to pick up the piecesand push Stalin and Churchill to accede to a bargain that would let the Anglo-Americans block Soviet threats against Western Europe and ensure that the world would not have to fear another Adolf Hitler.
Download Description
"A New York Times bestseller, The Conquerors reveals how Franklin Roosevelt's and Harry Truman's private struggles with their aides and Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin affected the unfolding of the Holocaust and the fate of vanquished Nazi Germany. With monumental fairness and balance, The Conquerors shows how Roosevelt privately refused desperate pleas to speak out directly against the Holocaust, to save Jewish refugees and to explore the possible bombing of Auschwitz to stop the killing. The book also shows FDR's fierce will to ensure that Germany would never threaten the world again. Near the end of World War II, he abruptly endorsed the secret plan of his friend, Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau, to reduce the Germans to a primitive existence -- despite Churchill's fear that crushing postwar Germany would let the Soviets conquer the continent. The book finally shows how, after FDR's death, President Truman rebelled against Roosevelt's tough approach and adopted the Marshall Plan and other more conciliatory policies that culminated in today's democratic, united Europe. "
Customer Reviews:
What happened?.......2007-05-27
Any book about WWII, American History, and U.S. Presidents is an automatic read for me because they are my favorite subjects. That is why I am still perplexed about how Mr. Beschloss could have messed this one up. The story is told from people's points of view rather than independent investigation. I stopped reading about a quarter way through and passed it on.
The Not So Private War of Henry Morgenthau.......2007-04-20
Michael Beschloss's study of the Allied management of the end of World War II with Nazi Germany serves as a reminder that things are not always as obvious as they seem. At first glance the goal of hostilities in Europe could easily be summed up as the defeat of Hitler and Nazi Germany's Axis allies. But how does one define "defeat?" Is it territorial annihilation, Sherman to the Sea on a more massive scale? Is it discredit or even elimination of the warring military leadership? Is it national humiliation? Or is it business as usual in the conquered territories under Allied overlords, as would be the case of Japan?
This work is the story of how the United States, in concert with its allies, gestated its final plans for the conquest of Germany. One naturally gravitates toward Franklin D. Roosevelt as the leading man for such a drama, but in truth this book, like the events themselves, pivots around the persona of Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau, Jr. That Morgenthau was Jewish, one of few of his faith to achieve such status to that time, adds poignancy to the tale. Beschloss describes Morgenthau as perhaps Roosevelt's closest friend in the cabinet, a bond developed over their years together as neighboring self-styled gentlemen farmers in Dutchess County, NY. Despite Morgenthau's perceptions and desires, it was not exactly a friendship of equals. As was his wont, Roosevelt managed his communications with Morgenthau in the ethereal fashion of all his working associates. In truth Morgenthau enjoyed cabinet status because of difficulties Roosevelt had encountered earlier with the scrutinies of more independent men in the Treasury, Dean Acheson among them.
His affection for Roosevelt notwithstanding, Morgenthau felt a particular responsibility to Jews under persecution in Nazi occupied territory. Early in the conflict Morgenthau had focused upon relocation of Jews from Germany and elsewhere, but as the War unfolded and the scope of atrocities became gradually evident to policy makers, Morgenthau pressured Roosevelt to make rescue of Jews a major priority during the engagement. Such considerations collided with concurrent Cabinet debate about the status and treatment of postwar Germany. This was not a matter of hawks and doves as much as a question of priorities. Instinctually, most policy makers wanted a hard peace for both military and punitive reasons. The question was how much of Germany's industrial infrastructure to destroy or spare in response to its crimes, a critical matter as 1944 hurried into 1945.
By 1944 Winston Churchill had his fill of German militarism and would gladly have endorsed a Shermanesque solution to the German problem. Living through his second major encounter with the German military machine, he advocated utter annihilation of the nation's infrastructure, including its factories in the Ruhr Valley. Joseph Stalin, ever fearful of his west flank, would easily come around to Churchill's position as well, motivated not only by a will to survive but an opportunity to expand Communist hegemony.
Morgenthau, despite his closeness to Roosevelt, was gradually losing place in the Cabinet. His peers believed that his Jewish faith and priorities blinded him to other military, political, and economic issues that worried them, and with reason. Beschloss makes splendid use of official minutes and private diaries to trace the strategic shifting going on around Roosevelt--insights into the concerns and motivations of Henry Stimson, Cordell Hull, and particularly John McCloy, who at the end of the day would probably do the most to derail Morgenthau's postwar vision.
Roosevelt's 1944 Quebec meeting with Churchill, with Morgenthau in attendance, convinced the latter--wrongly, as it would turn out--that his boss and the Prime Minister were solidly behind his call for a hard and vengeful peace, the Morgenthau Plan. He returned home entirely justified, so much so that he felt emboldened to steer certain aspects of his peace plan toward the Washington Post, with added hints of opposition among certain cabinet members. The fallout from public disclosure ignited massive political difficulties in nearly every quarter. Joseph Goebbels jumped upon Morgenthau's plan as evidence that Allied strategic planning was aimed at reducing Germany to the stone ages. Morgenthau was blamed for stiffening German resistance and costing American lives. Thomas Dewey, then running for president in the 1944 campaign, jumped upon the strategy ["as useful as ten fresh German divisions"] and the now apparent disarray of the cabinet. Roosevelt distanced himself from the plan and from its author Morgenthau, a painful and humiliating blow for the latter. Mercifully, Morgenthau was unaware at the time that his own closest confidant, Henry Dexter White, was a Russian spy.
The Battle of the Bulge, reported by American intelligence sources as a German response to the Morgenthau Plan, was probably the last straw that ended his influence upon conduct of the war. But other factors were weighing heavily upon the Allies. As western armies began crossing into Germany itself, the enormous damage already wrought upon the country's substructure made it clear that economic chaos and starvation were very likely at the conclusion of hostilities. All parties to the conflict, and notably England, were heavily in debt. The idea of a post-war German welfare state worried the international business community [except, ironically, America's own chief treasury officer.] To destroy the existing mines and factories of the Ruhr Valley, for example, seemed less and less desirable. In addition, growing concern in England and the United States about Russian post-war ambitions led to a grudging recognition that Germany could not be entirely demilitarized.
On the other hand, Germany's heinous crimes of the half-century called for an appropriate response. Beschloss captures the dilemma of policy makers, torn between pragmatic and humanitarian concerns in the partition, punishment, and reorganization of Germany. The author presents his well researched account in a style marked by intimacy, immediacy and movement. He gives us another vantage point of the War. Assuming that we know something of how it was fought, Beschloss explains how it was ended--and how it could have ended.
Lacking substance.......2006-04-21
I was quite disappointed in this book. The first 3/4 seem to be spent as Henry Morgentheau vs. Everybody in the Roosevelt Administration, and all it is how Roosevelt can't decide or won't commit on the Morgentheau plan while everybody else tries to persuade him otherwise. It picks up a little when Truman takes over, but not a great deal. It has enlightened me as to how all of this unfolded, but, in my opinion, could have been much better. I don't know if there's a better alternative.
A great read.......2006-03-10
Reading this book made me understand more about the complex war Roosevelt fought, against not only Germany, but also his own supporters and allies. Recommended.
The now told rise and fall of Jeff Madison.......2006-03-08
Jeff Madison (review below) copied his review right from the critics page of BarnesandNoble! Nearly all 75 of his reviews are copied. I have reported this to both Amazon and Barnes. Just making you all aware before you take anything he writes seriously. The critics review is pasted below, or you can just go to B & N and see for yourself. Jeff Madison, man of little class, and even less integrity. Hopefully they will be removing his reviews soon!
Foreign Affairs
World War II is the most intensively studied conflict in history, and nearly 60 years after its end, fresh information is still emerging. Beschloss' account of U.S. policy toward Germany during the war integrates new archival research to place some of the war's crucial actors and events in illuminating new perspective. In particular, Beschloss's account of the relationship between Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau and the president he served for 12 years leads to surprising and disquieting insights into Franklin Roosevelt's failure to publicize - much less to obstruct - the Holocaust. John McCloy emerges from these pages with a reputation considerably enhanced. Often singled out as the official responsible for blocking proposals to bomb Auschwitz or its feeder railroads, McCloy is shown here to have acted under direct and specific orders from Roosevelt - a source he loyally concealed for decades after the war. Beschloss' sensitive portrayal of the difficulties of assimilated, educated Jews such as Morgenthau with a political culture still strongly influenced by antisemitism is both disturbing and moving. Some of the material he handles is radioactive, such as antisemitic comments from Roosevelt and Harry Truman against the background of the Holocaust, yet Beschloss neither palliates evil nor imposes the standards of the present on the past.
Books:
- Ulysses S. Grant : Memoirs and Selected Letters : Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant / Selected Letters, 1839-1865 (Library of America)
- Virtual Teams: People Working Across Boundaries with Technology
- W. E. Gladstone III: Autobiographical Memoranda, 1845-1866 (Prime Ministers' Papers)
- Waiting for God (Perennial Classics)
- Walk in My Soul
- What We Lost: Based on a True Story
- When Children Love to Learn: A Practical Application of Charlotte Mason's Philosophy for Today
- Where the Red Fern Grows
- Windows Vista Inside Out
- Woodrow Wilson and Harry Truman: Mission and Power in American Foreign Policy
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