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    The Hawk and the Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan, and the History of the Cold War
    The Hawk and the Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan, and the History of the Cold War
    The Hawk and the Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan, and the History of the Cold War
    Audiobook15 hours

    The Hawk and the Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan, and the History of the Cold War

    Written by Nicholas Thompson

    Narrated by Michael Prichard

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Only two Americans held positions of great influence throughout the Cold War; ironically, they were the chief advocates for the opposing strategies for winning-and surviving-that harrowing conflict. Both men came to power during World War II, reached their professional peaks during the Cold War's most frightening moments, and fought epic political battles that spanned decades. Yet despite their very different views, Paul Nitze and George Kennan dined together, attended the weddings of each other's children, and remained good friends all their lives.

    In this masterly double biography, Nicholas Thompson brings Nitze and Kennan to vivid life. Nitze-the hawk-was a consummate insider who believed that the best way to avoid a nuclear clash was to prepare to win one. More than any other American, he was responsible for the arms race. Kennan-the dove-was a diplomat turned academic whose famous "X article" persuasively argued that we should contain the Soviet Union while waiting for it to collapse from within. For forty years, he exercised more influence on foreign affairs than any other private citizen.

    As he weaves a fascinating narrative that follows these two rivals and friends from the beginning of the Cold War to its end, Thompson accomplishes something remarkable: he tells the story of our nation during the most dangerous half century in history.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateSep 29, 2009
    ISBN9781400183531

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    • 4/5
      An interesting twice biography of possibly the two leading American theorists of the Cold War. They both believed in the Soviet threat and that Communism needed to be contained but they have very different visions on how to achieve that. They also had different Cold War careers while remaining friends, or at least friendly. It sheds some interesting light on how America's Cold War strategy was forged and maintained. The book is well written and easy to read while still talking about often complex topics. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more on Vietnam as they both had strong views on the war (both opposed) but Nitze was in the Johnson Administration. But apart from that I thought very highly of this book.