The Last Brahmin, Luke A. Nichter
The Last Brahmin, Luke A. Nichter
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The Last Brahmin
Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. and the Making of the Cold War

Author: Luke A. Nichter

Narrator: Rick Adamson

Unabridged: 17 hr 32 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 06/29/2021


Synopsis

Few have ever enjoyed the degree of foreign-policy influence and versatility that Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. did. For three decades, he was at the center of American foreign policy, serving as advisor to five presidents, from Dwight Eisenhower to Gerald Ford, and as ambassador to the United Nations, Vietnam, West Germany, and the Vatican.

He entered Eisenhower in the 1952 New Hampshire primary without the candidate's knowledge, crafted his political positions, and managed his campaign. As UN ambassador in the 1950s, Lodge was effectively a second secretary of state. In the 1960s, he was called twice, by John F. Kennedy and by Lyndon Johnson, to serve in the toughest position in the State Department's portfolio, as ambassador to Vietnam. In the 1970s, he paved the way for permanent American ties with the Holy See.

In this book, historian Luke A. Nichter gives us a compelling narrative of Lodge's extraordinary and consequential life. Lodge was among the last of the well-heeled Eastern Establishment Republicans who put duty over partisanship and saw themselves as the hereditary captains of the American state. Unlike many who reach his position, Lodge took his secrets to the grave—including some that, revealed here for the first time, will force historians to rethink their understanding of America's involvement in the Vietnam War.

About Luke A. Nichter

Luke A. Nichter is professor of history and James H. Cavanaugh Endowed Chair in Presidential Studies at Chapman University. He is the author of The Last Brahmin: Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. and the Making of the Cold War. He lives in Orange, California, and Bowling Green, Ohio.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Mandy on September 27, 2020

Thoroughly researched, comprehensive and detailed biography of Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. Clearly and accessibly written, and given that political biographies can be a bit dull for the uninitiated, this one was entertaining and did a good job in bringing out the personality of the subject. I learnt a lot......more

Goodreads review by Michael on September 01, 2020

The basic study of history is a study of events that have happened, and many people leave it at that. Some choose to expand on that and include a study of the events and why they happen, while others delve deeper to study not only the when and the why, but also the how, and the who behind historical......more

Goodreads review by Tony on August 27, 2021

I've followed politics all my life and 1960 was the first presidential election of which I have strong memories. Whatever opinions I had about Nixon as the presidential candidate, I was very impressed with Henry Cabot Lodge as the vice presidential candidate. He came from an old Brahmin family in Ma......more

Goodreads review by Ronald on July 23, 2020

During the 20th century, from Teddy Roosevelt to Bush 41, every president made an impact on foreign affairs and global diplomacy during periods of war, peace and crises; in addition to that, there were 10 times as many diplomats and politicians who spent their entire adult lives influencing, changin......more

Goodreads review by Charles on March 10, 2021

Solid coverage of a Senator I didn't know much about that also helped refresh my memory of midcentury U.S. history. It felt a bit reverent, so I'm not sure it really tried to present a complete picture, but I appreciated what I did learn.......more