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Merilee's Reviews > The Hawk and the Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan, and the History of the Cold War
The Hawk and the Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan, and the History of the Cold War
by Nicholas Thompson
by Nicholas Thompson
More like 4.5 stars...
This is a very well-written and interesting joint biography of two of the biggest U.S. players in the Cold War, written by Nitze's grandson (though I could detect no partisanship on his part). These men disagreed on many issues during their long friendship, yet never lost respect for each other. Near the end, Thompson quotes from a speech which Nitze gave at his son's 1953 boarding school commencement, using the image of the tension in a bow or guitar, which could apply as much to the relationship between Kennan and Nitze as to East vs West:
"...the answer is to be found not in the elimination of one of the opposite or in any basic compromise between them but in striving for a harmony in tension between opposites."
This is a very well-written and interesting joint biography of two of the biggest U.S. players in the Cold War, written by Nitze's grandson (though I could detect no partisanship on his part). These men disagreed on many issues during their long friendship, yet never lost respect for each other. Near the end, Thompson quotes from a speech which Nitze gave at his son's 1953 boarding school commencement, using the image of the tension in a bow or guitar, which could apply as much to the relationship between Kennan and Nitze as to East vs West:
"...the answer is to be found not in the elimination of one of the opposite or in any basic compromise between them but in striving for a harmony in tension between opposites."
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Barbara
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Mar 09, 2010 04:05pm
Interesting- a joint biography!
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Yes, of two fascinating and important men. Many interesting tidbits discovered re: Cuba, nukes, etc.Had not realized that Khrushchev was basically illiterate. He could read a tiny bit, but could not write! He could hardly sign his name. No wonder he banged his shoe on the desk at the U.N.!
Sounds really interesting, especially for the tidbits. What a time it was, and I think hubby will love it too.
