The Erection of the Berlin Wall (1961), as Perceived by Dean Rusk and Anatoly Dobrynin, in their Memoirs
Journal: Ad Americam
Year: 2025

The Berlin Wall has become a symbol of Soviet power, arrogance, and militarism, while US policy at the time is often perceived as flexible and conciliatory. Nevertheless, neither portrayal is entirely accurate. Memoirs by Secretary Dean Rusk and Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin reveal that the Soviets were initially hesitant about the idea, which was primarily driven by East German communists pursuing their own agenda. In contrast, Washington’s response seemed slow and indecisive. Consequently