The Politics of Diplomacy
Former Secretary of State Baker's memoirs offer an engaging and candid behind-the-scenes look at the conduct of U.S. foreign policy during one of the most tumultuous periods in recent history. The dramatic political convulsions of his tenure?the Tiananmen Square massacre, breakup of the Soviet Union, collapse of the Berlin wall, German reunification, and Iraqi invasion of Kuwait?form the backdrop for Baker's intriguing account of his forays into the vicissitudes of international diplomacy, a tale laced with personal anecdotes and intimate portraits of major world figures. Confusing chronological arrangement and sometimes tedious details may put off some readers, but those who persevere will be well rewarded. Comparable to his predecessor George P. Schultz's Turmoil and Triumph (Scribner's, 1993), Baker's book is a valuable contribution to the literature on contemporary U.S. foreign relations. A welcome addition to both popular and academic collections.-?David Ettinger, George Washington Univ., Washington, D.C.Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.