The Rockets' Red Glare: When America Goes to War : The Presidents and the People - Softcover

Barnet, Richard J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0671732870 ISBN 13: 9780671732875

Publisher: Touchstone Books, 1990

Synopsis

Looks at the conflict between presidents and American citizens over war and peace

About this title

From Library Journal:

This is a lively, insightful, and lucid account of the role public opinion has played in the foreign policy process from George Washington's administration through the Reagan years. Enlisting a wide variety of sources, Barnet, cofounder of the Institute for Policy Studies and author of Roots of War ( LJ 5/1/72) and Real Security ( LJ 6/15/81), reconstructs the historical struggles between presidents and the American people to shape and control decisions of war and peace. Barnet notes that as public opinion became more influential in foreign policy decisions of the nuclear age, presidents endeavored to manipulate and define public attitudes. The author concludes by arguing that greater democratization of the foreign policy process would yield more sensible decisions in the future. This splendid work deserves a broad audience.
- Gary L. Malecha, Weber State Coll., Ogden, Ut.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly:

FDR's sensitivity to public opinion prior to Pearl Harbor and the Reagan administration's manipulation of it in terms of Nicaragua are cases in point in what PW called a "probing, comprehensive survey of the role of public opinion in shaping U.S. foreign policy." Barnet warns that increasingly frantic efforts to win public approval are resulting in a depoliticized, shock-proof electorate.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Touchstone Books
• Publication date: 1990
• ISBN 10: 0671732870
• ISBN 13: 9780671732875
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 480