When the world seemed new: George H. W. Bush and the end of the Cold War

Based on unprecedented access to previously classified documents and dozens of interviews with key policymakers, here is the untold story of how George H. W. Bush faced a critical turning point of history--the end of the Cold War. The end of the Cold War was the greatest shock to international affairs since World War II. In that perilous moment, Saddam Hussein chose to invade Kuwait, China cracked down on its own pro-democracy protesters, and regimes throughout Eastern Europe teetered between democratic change and new authoritarians. Not since FDR in 1945 had a U.S. president faced such opportunities and challenges. As the presidential historian Jeffrey Engel reveals in this page-turning history, behind closed doors from the Oval Office to the Kremlin, George H. W. Bush rose to the occasion brilliantly. Distrusted by such key allies as Margaret Thatcher and dismissed as too cautious by the press, Bush had the experience and the wisdom to use personal, one-on-one diplomacy with world leaders. Bush knew when it was essential to rally a coalition to push Iraq out of Kuwait. He managed to help unify Germany while strengthening NATO. Based on unprecedented access to previously classified documents and interviews with all of the principals, When the World Seemed New is a riveting, fly-on-the-wall account of a president with his hand on the tiller, guiding the nation through a pivotal time and setting the stage for the twenty-first century" The untold story of how George H. W. Bush faced a critical turning point of history--the end of the Cold War--based on unprecedented access to heretofore classified documents and dozens of interviews with key policymakers" Read more... The Untold Story Of How George H. W. Bush Faced A Critical Turning Point Of History--the End Of The Cold War--based On Unprecedented Access To Heretofore Classified Documents And Dozens Of Interviews With Key Policymakers-- Based On Unprecedented Access To Previously Classified Documents And Dozens Of Interviews With Key Policymakers, Here Is The Untold Story Of How George H. W. Bush Faced A Critical Turning Point Of History, The End Of The Cold War. The Collapse Of The Soviet Union Was The Greatest Shock To International Affairs Since World War Ii. In That Perilous Moment, Saddam Hussein Chose To Invade Kuwait, China Cracked Down On Its Own Pro-democracy Protesters, And Regimes Throughout Eastern Europe Teetered Between Democratic Change And New Authoritarian Rule. President Bush Faced A World In Turmoil That Might Easily Have Tipped Into An Epic Crisis. As Presidential Historian Jeffrey Engel Reveals In This Page-turning, Inside-the-oval-office History, Bush Rose To The Occasion Brilliantly. Using Handwritten Letters And Direct Conversations--some Revealed Here For The First Time--with Heads Of State Throughout Asia And Europe, Bush Knew When To Push, When To Cajole, And When To Be Patient. The United States Could Not Impose Its Will On Every Nation, But Bush Knew When It Was Essential To Rally A Coalition To Force Iraq Out Of Kuwait. He Knew He Could Not Stop China From Cracking Down On Dissent, But He Could Help Germany Transition From Two States Into One, Bloodlessly. He Kept Nato Alive And Guided The United States From A Moment Of Great Peril To The Pinnacle Of Global Power. Based On Previously Classified Documents, And Interviews With All Of The Principals, When The World Seemed New Is A Riveting, Fly-on-the-wall Account Of A President With His Calm Hand On The Tiller, Guiding The Nation Through A Pivotal Time.--dust Jacket Flap. Swan Song And Surprise -- Bush's Rise -- Gorbachev At The Un -- We Know What Works -- The Pause -- A Special Relationship There -- Cheney Rises And The Pause Ends -- From A Funeral To A Riot -- Crackdown -- Untying The Knot -- Eastern Europe Aboil -- Another Border Opens -- It Has Happened -- Germans Pause ... And Act -- Malta -- Not One Inch Eastward -- Camp David -- Concession -- This Will Not Stand -- With Us, Or Not Against Us -- The New World Order -- Disunion Is A Fact -- I Have Signed It. Jeffrey A. Engel. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. “Engel's excellent history forms a standing—if unspoken—rebuke to the retrograde nationalism espoused by Donald J. Trump.”—The New York Times Book Review The collapse of the Soviet Union was the greatest shock to international affairs since World War II. In that perilous moment, Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and regimes throughout Eastern Europe and Asia teetered between democratic change and new authoritarian rule. President Bush faced a world in turmoil that might easily have tipped into an epic crisis. As presidential historian Jeffrey Engel reveals in this page-turning history, Bush rose to the occasion brilliantly. Using handwritten letters and direct conversations—some revealed here for the first time—with heads of state throughout Asia and Europe, Bush knew when to push, when to cajole, and when to be patient. Based on previously classified documents, and interviews with all the principals, When the World Seemed New is a riveting, fly-on-the-wall account of a president with his calm hand on the tiller, guiding the nation from a moment of great peril to the pinnacle of global power. “An absorbing book.”—The Wall Street Journal “By far the most comprehensive—and compelling—account of these dramatic years thus far.”—The National Interest “A remarkable book about a remarkable person. Southern Methodist University professor Jeffrey Engel describes in engrossing detail the patient and sophisticated strategy President George H.W. Bush pursued as the Cold War came to an end.”—The Dallas Morning News