John Foster Dulles: Piety, Pragmatism, and Power in U.S. Foreign Policy (Biographies in American Foreign Policy)

John Foster Dulles was one of the most influential and controversial figures in the history of twentieth-century U.S. foreign relations. Active in the field for decades, Dulles reflected and was a reflection of the tension that pervaded U.S. international conduct from its evolution as a global power in the early twentieth century through its emergence as the 'leader of the Free World' during the Cold War. His life and career embody the best and most troubling aspects of American foreign policy as it progressed toward international supremacy while swaying between altruism and self-interest. In this biography, Richard Immerman traces Dulles's path from his early days growing up in the parsonage of the First Presbyterian Church of Watertown, N.Y., through his years of amassing influence and power as an international business lawyer and adviser, to his service as President Eisenhower's secretary of state. This volume illuminates not only the history of modern U.S. foreign policy, but its search for a twentieth-century identity. Sophisticated yet accessible, John Foster Dulles: Piety, Pragmatism, and Power in U.S. Foreign Policy is an important resource for graduate and undergraduate courses in U.S. history and U.S. foreign relations. "John Foster Dulles was one of the most influential and controversial figures in the history of the twentieth-century U.S. foreign relations. Active in the field for decades, Dulles reflected and was a reflection of the tension that pervaded the international conduct of the United States from its evolution as a global power in the early twentieth century through its emergence as the 'leader of the free world' during the Cold War. His life and career embody both the best and most troubling aspects of American foreign policy as it progressed toward international supremacy while swaying between altruism and self-interest. Dulles remains an enigma because he was both a crusading idealist and a calculating practitioner of realpolitik. In this biography, Richard Immerman traces Dulles's path from his early days growing up as the son of a Presbyterian minister in Watertown, Ney York, through his years of amassing influence and power as an international business lawyer and adviser, to his service as President Eisenhower's secretary of state. In examining the life of Dulles, this volume illuminates not only the history of modern U.S. foreign policy, but also its search for twentieth-century identity. Sophisticated yet accessible, John Foster Dulles: Piety, Pragmatism, and Power in U.S. Foreign Policy is an important resource for both graduate and undergraduate courses in U.S. History and foreign relations"--Back cover John Foster Dulles was one of the most influential and controversial figures in the history of twentieth-century U.S. foreign relations. Active in the field for decades, Dulles reflected and was a reflection of the tension that pervaded U.S. international conduct from its evolution as a global power in the early twentieth century through its emergence as the "leader of the Free World" during the Cold War. His life and career embody the best and most troubling aspects of American foreign policy as it progressed toward international supremacy while swaying between altruism and self-interest.Dulles remains an enigma because he was both a crusading idealist and a calculating practitioner of realpolitik. In this biography, Richard Immerman traces Dulles's path from his early days growing up in the parsonage of the First Presbyterian Church of Watertown, N.Y., through his years of amassing influence and power as an international business lawyer and adviser, to his service as President Eisenhower's secretary of state.In examining the life of Dulles, this volume illuminates not only the history of modern U.S. foreign policy, but its search for a twentieth century identity.