Maximalist : America in the World From Truman to Obama

From a writer with long and high-level experience in the U.S. government, a startling and provocative assessment of America’s global dominance. __Maximalist__ puts the history of our foreign policy in an unexpected new light, while drawing fresh, compelling lessons for the present and future. When the United States has succeeded in the world, Stephen Sestanovich argues, it has done so not by staying the course but by having to change it—usually amid deep controversy and uncertainty. For decades, the United States has been a power like no other. Yet presidents and policy makers worry that they—and, even more, their predecessors—haven’t gotten things right. Other nations, they say to themselves, contribute little to meeting common challenges. International institutions work badly. An effective foreign policy costs too much. Public support is shaky. Even the greatest successes often didn’t feel that way at the time. Sestanovich explores the dramatic results of American global primacy built on these anxious foundations, recounting cycles of overcommitment and underperformance, highs of achievement and confidence followed by lows of doubt. We may think there was a time when America’s international role reflected bipartisan unity, policy continuity, and a unique ability to work with others, but __Maximalist__ tells a different story—one of divided administrations and divisive decision making, of clashes with friends and allies, of regular attempts to set a new direction. Doing too much has always been followed by doing too little, and vice versa. __Maximalist__ unearths the backroom stories and personalities that bring American foreign policy to life. Who knew how hard Lyndon Johnson fought to stay out of the war in Vietnam—or how often Henry Kissinger ridiculed the idea of visiting China? Who remembers that George Bush Sr. found Ronald Reagan’s diplomacy too passive—or that Bush Jr. considered Bill Clinton’s too active? Leaders and scoundrels alike emerge from this retelling in sharper focus than ever before. Sestanovich finds lessons in the past that anticipate and clarify our chaotic present. From a writer with long and high-level experience in the U.S. government, a startling and provocative assessment of America's global dominance. Maximalist puts the history of our foreign policy in an unexpected new light, while drawing fresh, compelling lessons for the present and future. When the United States has succeeded in the world, Stephen Sestanovich argues, it has done so not by staying the course but by having to change it?usually amid deep controversy and uncertainty. For decades, the United States has been a power like no other. Yet presidents and policy makers worry that they?and, even more, their predecessors?haven't gotten things right. Other nations, they say to themselves, contribute little to meeting common challenges. International institutions work badly. An effective foreign policy costs too much. Public support is shaky. Even the greatest successes often didn't feel that way at the time. Sestanovich explores the dramatic results of American global primacy built on these anxious foundations, recounting cycles of overcommitment and underperformance, highs of achievement and confidence followed by lows of doubt. We may think there was a time when America's international role reflected bipartisan unity, policy continuity, and a unique ability to work with others, but Maximalist tells a different story?one of divided administrations and divisive decision making, of clashes with friends and allies, of regular attempts to set a new direction. Doing too much has always been followed by doing too little, and vice versa. Maximalist unearths the backroom stories and personalities that bring American foreign policy to life. Who knew how hard Lyndon Johnson fought to stay out of the war in Vietnam?or how often Henry Kissinger ridiculed the idea of visiting China? Who remembers that George Bush Sr. found Ronald Reagan's diplomacy too passive?or that Bush Jr. considered Bill Clinton's too active? Leaders and scoundrels alike emerge from this retelling in sharper focus than ever before. Sestanovich finds lessons in the past that anticipate and clarify our chaotic present. From the Hardcover edition From A Writer With Long And High-level Experience In The U.s. Government, A Lively, Provocative, And Eminently Readable Reexamination Of American Foreign Policy, Capturing Not Only Its Extraordinary Achievements But The Diplomatic Missteps, Intellectual Confusion, And Political Discord From Which They Usually Emerge. American Foreign Policy Since World War Ii Has Long Been Seen Primarily As A Story Of Strong And Successful Alliances, Domestic Consensus, And Continuity From One Administration To The Next. Why Then Have So Many Presidents--even Those Most Admired Today--left Office Condemned For Their Foreign Policy Record? In His Fresh And Compelling History Of America's Rise To Dominance, Stephen Sestanovich Makes Clear That U.s. Diplomacy Has Always Stirred Controversy, Both At Home And Abroad. He Shows How Successive Administrations Have Struggled To Find New Solutions, Alternating Between Bold 'maximalist' Strategies And Retrenchment Efforts To Downsize America's Role. Almost All Our Presidents--and All Their Most Important Decisions, From Defeat In Vietnam Through Victory In The Cold War To Today's New Challenges--emerge From This Vivid Retelling In A Sharp And Unexpected Light-- Prologue : We Do Big Things -- Truman At The Creation : The United States Must Run This Show -- Truman At War : Victory Is A Strong Magnet -- Enough Is Enough : Eisenhower And Retrenchment -- Boy Commandos: Of The New Frontier : Kennedy's Anxious Activism -- Mainly Violins, With Touches Of Brass : Johnson Against His Advisers -- We Have Not Been Divided : Johnson At War -- Retrenchment And Vietnam : Get Going, Take Risks, Be Exciting -- Retrenchment And Détente : A Nihilistic Nightmare -- Outspend Them Forever : Reagan And The End Of The Cold War -- No One Else Can Do This : Bush, Clinton, And The Retrenchment That Wasn't -- Things Related And Not : Bush And September 11 -- No Wiggle Room : Obama And Retrenchment -- Epilogue : If It's Worth Doing, It's Worth Overdoing. Stephen Sestanovich. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 339-379) And Index. "From a writer with long and high-level experience in the U.S. government, a lively, provocative, and eminently readable reexamination of American foreign policy, capturing not only its extraordinary achievements but the diplomatic missteps, intellectual confusion, and political discord from which they usually emerge. American foreign policy since World War II has long been seen primarily as a story of strong and successful alliances, domestic consensus, and continuity from one administration to the next. Why then have so many presidents--even those most admired today--left office condemned for their foreign policy record? In his fresh and compelling history of America's rise to dominance, Stephen Sestanovich makes clear that U.S. diplomacy has always stirred controversy, both at home and abroad. He shows how successive administrations have struggled to find new solutions, alternating between bold "maximalist" strategies and retrenchment efforts to downsize America's role. Almost all our presidents--and all their most important decisions, from defeat in Vietnam through victory in the Cold War to today's new challenges--emerge from this vivid retelling in a sharp and unexpected light."-- Provided by publisher Prologue : "We do big things" Truman at the creation : "The United States must run this show" Containment at war : Truman, the military, and regime change "Enough is enough" : Eisenhower and the perils of retrenchment Boy commandos of the New Frontier : "making maximalism safe" "Mainly violins, with touches of brass" : Johnson against his advisers "We have not been divided : Johnson at war Retrenchment and Vietnam : "get going, take risks, be exciting" Retrenchment and detente : "a nihilistic nightmare" "Outspend them forever" : did empathy and optimism end the Cold War? "No one else can do this" : Bush, Clinton, and the retrenchment that wasn't Things related and not : Bush and September 11 No wiggle room : Obama and retrenchment.