David A. Nichols

While the topic of George Washington's Office of Indian Trade might sound like something of only antiquarian interest, assuming that you were even aware that there was such an agency, that the author lifts it above the level of antiquarian trivia is quite impressive. I know of the records and I'm certainly impressed that such a worthwhile monograph could be quarried out of them. Essentially, the Office was an instrument of American empire as, even after the victory of Fallen Timbers, it was clear to the Federalists that their Indian problem could not be solved by force alone; particularly since His Majesty's government was still prepared to invest in their Indian allies. Thus we have the office, which was charged with the mission of weening the independent tribes east off the Mississippi away from their European patrons, and bringing them into a dependent relationship with the United States; if they became so dependent that debt could be exchanged for land, so much the better.

While the Office never quite achieved the ends that were hoped for, it did place the U.S. government on a regular diplomatic footing with the assorted tribes, that recognized that certain norms stretching back into the 1600's still applied. That the system was eventually disestablished was probably inevitable, as after the Crash of 1819 the agency was looking for a new mission, and John Jacob Astor didn't need the competition; and he had the political clout to do make this possible. This is particularly when full-fledged Jacksonian Indian removal was waiting in the wings.

Highly recommended for students of the early U.S. republic.… (más)

This book demolishes the myth I grew up learning that Eisenhower did nothing on civil rights and did not even care for the issue. Teachers, textbooks, and professors all told me he did not believe in civil rights, he regretted nominating Earl Warren to the Supreme Court, and the like. I remember seeing Herblock cartoons of an oblivious, avuncular, dunder-headed Ike watching and doing nothing as the US burned.

Poppycock.

Why did I learn all this? Part of the reason is the liberal meta-narrative that Democrats equal good, Republicans equal bad. The myth that civil rights was pushed by Dems and not Reps. This book destroys liberal pieties like "Truman desegregated the military." Bull. He issued an executive order and reaped all the historical benevolence. Eisenhower actually desegregated the military. Then, he desegregated military hospitals, VA facilities, military schools, and schools in towns near military installations. Then he desegregated Washington. DC (a town officially segregated by progressive icon, and all-around racist, Woodrow Wilson). Part of the reason is Eisenhower did all of this quietly. That was his leadership style: look like you're doing nothing, take no credit.

The truth in this book: Eisenhower was very concerned with civil rights, very involved in making progress on the issue, and doing, not talking. Eisenhower was not a bystander on the Brown decision, he pushed it. Eisenhower was not a bystander on sending troops to Little Rock, he pushed it. Ditto, ditto, et cetera, et cetera. He pushed the Civil Rights Act of 1957. He pushed the Civil Rights Act of 1960. Who degraded and denuded those two laws? The sainted LBJ. Who comes across in this book as he should: a political piece of shit, who only did things to further his career, instead of doing what was right.

The book reads quickly, is meticulously endnoted, and thoroughly researched. A must read.… (más)

When I read non-fiction, which isn't often enough, I tend to favor biographies or histories. I picked up Nichols' detailed microscopic compilation of a critical year in the life of President Eisenhower based on a review my uncle wrote. Being born and raised and still living in Kansas, I have an understandable preoccupation with one of our most famous and respected residents.

The extent of Nichols' meticulous research impressed me. His delivery of the facts and circumstances and thoughts of key players (gleaned from personal notes and diaries) brought me to the center of the conflicts and the crises. I queried many older friends and family on what they remembered of 1956 (since I wasn't born until eight years later), most of whom were too young at the time to really remember the Suez Canal crisis.

That didn't stop me from feeling an echo of the anxiety and the beginning of our national belief in 'mutually assured destruction' (MAD - a very apropos acronym, don't you think?). Eisenhower's early understanding of the true horrors of thermonuclear warfare paved the way for his campaign of waging peace, even at the expense of some short-sighted WWII Allies. (For a great glimpse into an early (and now classic) apocalyptic novel, please see [b:Alas, Babylon|38169|Alas, Babylon|Pat Frank|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1169064009s/38169.jpg|37962] by [a:Pat Frank|21475|Pat Frank|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1224662677p2/21475.jpg], originally published in 1959 - click here for my review).

While reading this book, I visited the website for the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. I learned the current exhibit entitled 'Eisenhower: Agent of Change' ran until the end of January and the Library celebrates fifty years in 2012. As soon as I finished the book, I convinced my husband we needed to visit Abilene, since I could barely remember the last/first time I visited the Eisenhower Center (probably forty years ago or more). We spent a pleasant Saturday exploring the Museum, Library, boyhood home (intact and preserved on the grounds), the grounds and the final resting place of Dwight, Mamie and their son Doud (who died at the age of 3 in 1921).… (más)