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 Act Of CreationThe Founding Of The United Nationsby Stephen C. Schlesinger Sep 17, 2003
DescriptionIn Act of Creation, Stephen C. Schlesinger tells a pivotal and little-known story of how Secretary of State Edward Stettinius and the new American President, Harry Truman, picked up the pieces of the faltering campaign initiated by Franklin Roosevelt to create a "United Nations." Using secret agents, financial resources, and their unrivaled position of power, they overcame the intrigues of Stalin, the reservations of wartime allies like Winston Churchill, the discontent of smaller states, and a skeptical press corps to found the United Nations. The author reveals how the UN nearly collapsed several times during the conference over questions of which states should have power, who should be admitted, and how authority should be divided among its branches. By shedding new light on leading participants like John Foster Dulles, John F. Kennedy, Adlai Stevenson, Nelson Rockefeller, and E. B White, Act of Creation provides a fascinating tale of twentieth-century history not to be missed. Reviews"[Schlesinger's] account of the birth of the United Nations describes in lively detail the personalities and the dramas that attended, and sometimes nearly aborted, the conference which, after nine weeks of unremitting labor, produced the United Nations Charter." "I can only hope that Act of Creation finds its way to the bedside tables of Washington foreign policy makers." "Schlesinger manages to tell a complex story with a dizzying number of actors in a remarkably readable and engaging way." "Schlesinger's impressive account of [the United Nation's] founding deserves a wide readership." "Schlesinger...provides a masterful account of the drama acted out on the pressure-filled stage of San Francisco." "A fascinating web of intrigue, power, and greed." "A worthwhile piece of historical research." "A fascinating history of the diplomatic dramas and political intrigues behind the launch of the United Nations." "A superb book that reconstructs this drama with great lucidity, and illuminates its contemporary relevance." "[Schlesinger's] detailed account of the scheming, skulduggery and political horse-trading behind the creation of the UN is a timely reminder of what the organization's founders expected it to become." "Act of Creationis an outstanding work of history that provides a much-needed context in which to view the great issues of our time." "A sturdy account of the UN's birth...a great resource for students of modern history and international law." "Stephen Schlesinger's brilliant reconstruction of the San Francisco Conference is an important reminder to Americans - both supporters and skeptics - that the UN's Founding Fathers, led by Truman and FDR, knew what they were doing. In an atmosphere of growing confrontation with the Soviet Union, they created an organization better than anything previously conceived. Schlesinger's riveting drama shows clearly that, although the UN has not always lived up to its promise, the failure has been more in implementation than conception, and that it is still, as he says, an indispensable institution." "This the right book at the right time, the story of a great American achievement, the creation of the United Nations. People in power now would do well to learn from their predecessors who were able to make a new and better world." "Stephen Schlesinger's Act of Creation tells a dazzling story of the dramatic events that have shaped the world in which we live. Never has a book been more relevant to present dangers and future hopes." "Scrupulously researched, filled with new information and penetrating insights, Stephen Schlesinger's Act of Creation is an immensely valuable contribution to our understanding of one of the pivotal events of the 20th century: the creation of the United Nations. Act of Creation is an outstanding work of history that provides a much-needed context in which to view the great issues of our time." "This long-awaited book provides unique insights into the colorful characters and fascinating processes behind the founding of the United Nations." Selling TerritoryWorld |
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