The Price of Power

Agar claims that the price of power was evident from the time that the first atomic bomb was dropped in New Mexico. This event, of necessity, marked the end of America's tradition of isolation and demonstrated irrevocably her interdependent and international role for the future. The threat of totalitarian aggression, America's justification for a position of leadership, was implicit at Yalta and manifest at Potsdam where the issue of Poland, an old and delicate question, was settled to the satisfaction of Russia and the disillusionment of the West. After England withdrew her military aid from Greece the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan were conceived and finally effectuated by Senator Vandenberg. These events plus the Chinese Communist Revolution and the Hiss case became confused in the mind of that demagogue, McCarthy, who fed fuel to the fire by creating a myth about domestic conspiracy, who intimidated Congress and became a source of perpetual embarrassment to the country. That he was momentarily successful is an indication of the uncoordinated and undefined policies of the Truman Administration. Eisenhower's first and second elections reflect a reaction to the bungling in Korea, the MacArthur acandal and support a firm, and conscious reevaluation of our foreign policy. "Will Eisenhower be able to meet the responsibilities of our new role?" is today's most pressing question. Mr. Agar's fine journalistic style applied to sound and humane reasoning will not disappoint some readers of his other books, The People's?? and A Time for Greatness, though his point of view may come as a surprise to others. (Kirkus Reviews)