Arthur Vandenberg : The Man in the Middle of the American Century

The idea that a Senator—Republican or Democrat—would put the greater good of the country ahead of party seems nearly impossible to imagine in our current climate of gridlock and divisiveness. But this hasn’t always been the case. Arthur H. Vandenberg (1884–1951), Republican from Grand Rapids, Michigan, was the model of a consensus builder, and the coalitions he spearheaded continue to form the foundation of American foreign and domestic policy today. Edward R. Murrow called him “the central pivot of the entire era,” yet, despite his significance, Vandenberg has never received the full public attention he is due—until now. With this authoritative biography, Hendrik Meijer reveals how Vandenberg built and nurtured the bipartisan consensus that created the American Century. Originally the editor and publisher of the __Grand Rapids Herald__, Vandenberg was appointed and later elected to the Senate in 1928, where he became an outspoken opponent of the New Deal and a leader among the isolationists who resisted FDR’s efforts to aid European allies at the onset of World War II. But Vandenberg soon recognized the need for unity at the dawn of a new world order; and as a Republican leader, he worked closely with Democratic administrations to build the strong bipartisan consensus that established the Marshall Plan, the United Nations, and NATO. Vandenberg, as Meijer reveals, was instrumental in organizing Congressional support for these monumental twentieth-century foreign policy decisions. Vandenberg’s life and career offer powerful lessons for today, and Meijer has given us a story that suggests an antidote to our current democratic challenges. After reading this poignant biography, many will ask: Where is the Vandenberg of today? "An affecting human portrait of a public servant who came to symbolize the bipartisan pursuit of the national interest and a more peaceful world." —Henry A. Kissinger The idea that a Senator—Republican or Democrat—would put the greater good of the country ahead of party seems nearly impossible to imagine in our current climate of divisiveness. But this hasn't always been the case. Arthur H. Vandenberg (1884–1951), Republican from Michigan, was the model of a consensus builder, and the coalitions he spearheaded continue to form the foundation of American foreign and domestic policy today. With this authoritative biography, Hendrik Meijer reveals how Vandenberg nurtured the bipartisan consensus that created the American Century. Vandenberg was appointed and later elected to the Senate in 1928, where he became an outspoken opponent of the New Deal and a leader among the isolationists who resisted FDR's efforts to aid European allies at the onset of World War II. But Vandenberg soon recognized the need for unity; and as a Republican leader, he worked closely with Democratic administrations to build the strong bipartisan consensus that established the Marshall Plan, the United Nations, and NATO. Vandenberg's career offers powerful lessons for today, and Meijer has given us a story that suggests an antidote to our current democratic challenges. After reading this poignant biography, many will ask: Where is the Vandenberg of today? "An engaging and thorough account. . . . A first-rate chronicle." — Wall Street Journal "A first-class political biography, enthralling, a page-turner." — National Review "Every member of Congress should read this book for a lesson in leadership." —Cokie Roberts "A landmark achievement." —Douglas Brinkley, author of Rightful Heritage The idea that a Senator--Republican or Democrat--would put the greater good of the country ahead of party seems nearly impossible to imagine in our current climate of gridlock and divisiveness. But this hasn't always been the case. Arthur H. Vandenberg (1884-1951), Republican from Grand Rapids, Michigan, was the model of a consensus builder, and the coalitions he spearheaded continue to form the foundation of American foreign and domestic policy today. Edward R. Murrow called him "the central pivot of the entire era," yet, despite his significance, Vandenberg has never received the full public attention he is due--until now. With this authoritative biography, Hendrik Meijer reveals how Vandenberg built and nurtured the bipartisan consensus that created the American Century. Originally the editor and publisher of the Grand Rapids Herald, Vandenberg was appointed and later elected to the Senate in 1928, where he became an outspoken opponent of the New Deal and a leader among the isolationists who resisted FDR's efforts to aid European allies at the onset of World War II. But Vandenberg soon recognized the need for unity at the dawn of a new world order; and as a Republican leader, he worked closely with Democratic administrations to build the strong bipartisan consensus that established the Marshall Plan, the United Nations, and NATO. Vandenberg, as Meijer reveals, was instrumental in organizing Congressional support for these monumental twentieth-century foreign policy decisions. Vandenberg's life and career offer powerful lessons for today, and Meijer has given us a story that suggests an antidote to our current democratic challenges. After reading this poignant biography, many will ask: Where is the Vandenberg of today? -- Amazon.com The cause of ruin -- Class of 1900 -- The shrewdness of Vandenberg -- Home fires -- The best of Babbitt -- Destiny -- Young Turk -- Such a perilous hour -- Insulation -- It can't happen here -- The new ordeal -- Crossroads -- Repeal -- Dark horse -- War -- This inexplicable man -- Postwar artist -- Hunting for the middle ground -- Committee of eight -- Brothers under the skin -- The speech -- Dear Arthur -- San Francisco -- What is Russia up to now? -- Munich in reverse -- The Truman Doctrine -- Calculated risk -- 500g -- The last campaign -- The alliance -- Things fall apart -- The upstairs room -- Epilogue: what tomorrow speaks The idea that a Senator would put the greater good of the country ahead of his party seems nearly impossible to imagine in our current political climate. Originally the editor and publisher of the Grand Rapids Herald, Vandenberg was elected to the Senate in 1928, and became an outspoken opponent of the New Deal and a leader among the isolationists who resisted FDR's efforts to aid European allies at the onset of World War II. Meijer shows that Vandenberg worked closely with Democratic administrations to build the strong bipartisan consensus that established the Marshall Plan, the United Nations, and NATO xi, 432 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : 24 cm