A Diplomatic History of the American People

by Thomas A. Bailey

The impact of public opinion on foreign policies is the central focus of this interpretative study

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Politics, World History

1093 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1958

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a college class. But still, What a fantastic book. One of the few college texts I refused to sell back or send to DI.

[Errantpint · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tour de force of American history. Delivers on the premise splendidly. Every chapter focusing on a different topic makes the read entertaining and immersive. What could otherwise have been tiresome and dry, takes on a new fascinating take most chapters. I liked how it presented public opinion at times, including in European countries, and how diplomats took it into account during decision-making. The progression of hostile, to friendly relations between countries was enjoyable to read.

[Bobby · Rating 4 out of 5]

An outstanding historical overview of American foreign policy and individual Secretaries of State and the presidential policies they worked from (or at cross purposes with). Easy-to-read, it is written for the layman, not the academic.
I learned things I'd never heard of before, such as the fact that the United States once had troops occupying part of Russia! During the intervention of 1918, Europeans and America went in to support the White Russians and help quell the chaos during the early Russian Revolution.
Also that in early American history our relationship with Canada was anything but friendly. There were shooting incidents between Americans and Canadians partly over border disputes and partly over Canadian fears of American invasion.

[Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bailey's writing style makes this a fun read. The book is structured in short, digestible chapters with bibliographies at the end of each chapter. The analysis is concise and straightforward. Towards the end of the book, the author's anti-Communist position becomes unnecessarily intrusive - to the point where he justifies questionable US actions as "natural" due to Soviet aggression, i.e. during the McCarthyist Red Scare, Americans "fell victim to a natural desire to scapegoat." Apparently they just couldn't help themselves from persecuting people. Aside from that complaint, this is really a very good history book.

[James Violand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why we have done what we did in foreign relations. Shows how far we've fallen from our ideals and have become the basest pragmatics.

[Belle Meade School]

327.73