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, changing and making policy. None were more involved than Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., a patrician from a prominent Boston family whose ancestors trace back to the very beginnings of American colonists, builders, businessmen, politicians and diplomats. Cabot Lodge was foremost of them, more than any contemporary that you could name. And while he is not widely known among these contemporaries, his experience, contributions and involvement span from the Great War, Great Depression, Second World War, the Cold War and the Vietnam War.
World renowned and respected in his time as a journalist, congressman, senator, WW2 war veteran, U.N. Ambassador, U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam (twice) and ambassador-at-large in many venues, his life and career is a hallmark of compassionate, moderate conservatism. Few of his more famous contemporaries could sport a resume like his. This biography is a testament to the American ideals of public service. Luke Nichter has gone to excruciating lengths in research and detail to write an exemplary biography of a man little known or understood. For any student of 20th century history, this book is a must read.
The entire book is plethora of known and new information about this extraordinary American patriot and his service spanning 8 decades, the most intriguing chapters deal with Vietnam; more importantly is that newly found, declassified and transcribed material from the Kennedy White House shows that U.S. involvement in Vietnam from the very beginning became fixated & fixed after the cartoonish, deadly coup that toppled SVN president Ngo Dinh Diem on November 2, 1963. It has long been believed that President John F. Kennedy was fully involved and informed of the coup plotting from early that year. However, apologists and protectors of his legacy have steadfastly repudiated it. The information within this book shows that without a doubt, JFK knew well in advance about the coup plotting, actively stayed informed and tacitly approved of it. It is a stunning blow to his pristine thousand days; this is not revisionist history, it reads like ‘real time’ history correcting a record mired in the fog of war.
Cabot Lodge and others took a lot of detrimental and unnecessary blame for the Diem coup and what transpired in Vietnam over the next decade once Lyndon Johnson became president but the information revealed herein shows that blame could squarely be placed in the Oval Office. The buck stopped there.
That being said, this entire biography is a microcosm of the American realpolitik in its finest form. No politician or diplomat is perfect… but the last Brahmin was certainly closer than most.