America's Rasputin: Walt Rostow and the Vietnam WarWalt Rostow's meteoric rise to power--from Flatbush, Brooklyn, to the West Wing of the White House--seemed to capture the promise of the American dream. Hailing from humble origins, Rostow became an intellectual powerhouse: a professor of economic history at MIT and an influential foreign policy adviser to John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Too influential, according to some. While Rostow inspired respect and affection, he also made some powerful enemies. Averell Harriman, one of America's most celebrated diplomats, described Rostow as "America's Rasputin" for the unsavory influence he exerted on presidential decision-making. Rostow was the first to advise Kennedy to send U.S. combat troops to South Vietnam and the first to recommend the bombing of North Vietnam. He framed a policy of military escalation, championed recklessly optimistic reporting, and then advised LBJ against pursuing a compromise peace with North Vietnam. David Milne examines one man's impact on the United States' worst-ever military defeat. It is a portrait of good intentions and fatal misjudgments. A true ideologue, Rostow believed that it is beholden upon the United States to democratize other nations and do "good," no matter what the cost. America's Rasputin explores the consequences of this idealistic but unyielding dogma. |
Contents
THE EDUCATIONAL OF WALT WHITMAN ROSTOW 19761948 | 15 |
THE MAKING OF AN ANTICOMMUNIST ZEALOT 19501960 | 41 |
RATTLING SABERS 1961 | 73 |
A DISTANT VOICE 19621963 | 103 |
The BOSTON THESIS 19641965 | 131 |
The PROPHET RETURNS 1966 | 158 |
POSTPONING THE INEVITABLE | 181 |
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academic American attack Averell Harriman Baines Johnson Library bombing campaign Bundy's China Clark Clifford communism communist conflict critical David Halberstam Dean Rusk decision defeat defense secretary Democratic Diem Diffusion of Power diplomatic Economic Growth Eisenhower escalation February Files of Walt force FRUS George Hanoi Ibid infiltration insurgency intellectual JFKL John F Joint Chiefs Kennan Kennedy's Kissinger Laos later LBJL liberal Lyndon Baines Johnson Lyndon Johnson McGeorge Bundy memorandum Memos ment Minh national security adviser negotiations Nixon North Vietnam November oral history peace political President Johnson president's Richard Robert Komer Robert McNamara Roger Hilsman Rostow believed Rostow Thesis Rostow to Dean Rostow to President Rostow wrote Saigon significant South Southeast Asia Soviet Union Stages of Economic strategy targets Texas tion troops U.S. bombing U.S. foreign policy U.S. military United University Press Vietnam War Vietnamese Walt Rostow Walt W Yale York