"The CIA Did Come Up with an Extraordinary Scheme to Try to Murder Him" (2018)

True Men, Liars, and the Failures That Worked - Part 1: Locked in the Trunk of a Car: https://thememoryhole.substack.com/p/true-men-liars-and-the-failures-that?sd=pf
Read the book: https://amzn.to/3KQt8bf

The Age of Eisenhower received generally positive reviews upon its release. A Kirkus review praised the book as a "measured, mostly admiring" biography with a "lengthy, well-documented argument" but criticised it as inferior compared to Eisenhower in War and Peace by Jean Edward Smith. This sentiment was shared by a review from The Economist, which also complimented the book's overall verdict. Likewise, Steven Casey, reviewing in Cold War History, lauded the book as timely, and "cogently argued". Casey additionally praised the book's writing as elegant.[9] Publishers Weekly described the book as a revisionist biography, praising its comprehensiveness, persuasion, and usage of documents. The review concluded that the author "succeeds in positioning Ike as a world-historical figure". Similarly, Bryce Christensen from Booklist called the book "complete and persuasive". Reviewing from The Wall Street Journal, Richard Rhodes generally praised the book as a "rich narrative".[1] Alvin S. Felzenberg from The Claremont Review of Books described the book as masterly, and concluded that the book "should provide a decent burial to one of the worst predictions in U.S. history".[11] David Stebenne from The American Historical Review commented that despite the book included "new and intriguing arguments" despite the familiarity of its subject matter. The reviewer additionally complimented Hitchcock's coverage of civil rights as "sensible and fair", but criticised the author's omission on why Eisenhower neglected this issue.[12]

The book's coverage of foreign affairs has also been commented upon by reviewers, which Rhodes described as the book's primary focus.[1][13] Casey commented that the coverage of foreign affairs is the centrepiece of Hitchcock's book.[9] Felzenberg also lauded the book's coverage of CIA coups.[11] In contrast, David Watry, reviewing from Journal of Cold War Studies, criticised some of the descriptions of Eisenhower's foreign policy as misleading, commenting negatively towards Hitchcock's recount on the Korean Armistice Agreement. The review also reprobated the book's omissions regarding details of the 1956 Suez Crisis and the administration's handling of Vietnam in 1954, despite complimenting Hitchcock's coverage of the administration's domestic affairs. The review overall concluded that the author "makes a good case for Eisenhower as a “consequential” president", while criticising several of Hitchcock's judgements.[13] Stebenne also expressed that Hitchcock's coverage of foreign affairs had some contradictions despite the evidence being impressive. Still, the reviewer concluded that the book is overall impressive, with "a clear, coherent narrative", and also praised the prose and succinctness.[12]

The Age of Eisenhower covers the Eisenhower presidency, including domestic affairs, which Hitchcock labelled as "a middle way", McCarthyism, and civil rights but focuses mainly on foreign affairs and the president's handling of the Cold War.[1][2] The book contends that Eisenhower's presidency is notable due to "the absence of large-scale conflict" and stability, and described him as a "hardworking, skillful president".[3][4] However, Hitchcock criticised elements of the administration's foreign affairs policies, handling of McCarthyism, and a mixed record of civil rights.[4][5][6] Hitchcock spent eight years in writing the book.[4]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Age_of_Eisenhower

In 1952, Eisenhower entered the presidential race as a Republican to block the isolationist foreign policies of Senator Robert A. Taft, who opposed NATO and wanted no foreign entanglements. Eisenhower won that election and the 1956 election in landslides, both times defeating Adlai Stevenson II. Eisenhower's main goals in office were to contain the spread of communism and reduce federal deficits. In 1953, he considered using nuclear weapons to end the Korean War and may have threatened China with nuclear attack if an armistice was not reached quickly. China did agree and an armistice resulted, which remains in effect. His New Look policy of nuclear deterrence prioritized "inexpensive" nuclear weapons while reducing funding for expensive Army divisions. He continued Harry S. Truman's policy of recognizing Taiwan as the legitimate government of China, and he won congressional approval of the Formosa Resolution. His administration provided major aid to help the French fight off Vietnamese Communists in the First Indochina War. After the French left, he gave strong financial support to the new state of South Vietnam. He supported regime-changing military coups in Iran and Guatemala orchestrated by his own administration.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_D._Eisenhower