Robert P. Newman Boeken

Newman presents the story of author Lillian Hellman's intense relationship with Foreign Service officer John Melby--a relationship which cost Melby his job in a case of "guilt by association". Illustrations.

The book critically examines nine significant post-World War II American foreign policy decisions, highlighting how ideology overshadowed factual evidence. Decision-makers, influenced by chauvinism and anti-Communism, often ignored available information due to their ideological biases. The preface references Corey Robin's assertion that ideology can lead to extreme political actions, suggesting that while the pursuit of money and power may be troubling, they do not compare to the dangers posed by a fervent ideological commitment.

The book provides a rigorous examination of President Truman's decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan, framed through the lens of the 1995 controversy surrounding the National Air and Space Museum's exhibit of the Enola Gay. Award-winning historian Robert P. Newman presents a compelling argument that challenges prevailing narratives, offering insights into the historical and ethical implications of the event and its representation in the museum context.