Turmoil and Triumph

by George Pratt Shultz

George P. Shultz has written a towering book, a brilliant personal account of his years (1982-1989) as secretary of state under President Ronald Reagan. Not since Dean Acheson or Henry Kissinger has a former secretary of state written so deftly and articulately about the forging of a new, stronger foreign policy for America. When Secretary Shultz joined the Reagan cabinet, war raged in Lebanon, the Soviets were escalating the arms race, terrorism was at fever pitch. Yet his relentless determination - his use of strength in tandem with diplomacy - led to bold initiatives in the Middle East, new strategies for peace with the Soviets that transformed the superpower relationship, a strengthening of our hand in Asia and in Central and South America, and the forward march of democracy. There are behind-the-scenes talks with the Palestinians and Israelis, critical meetings with the Soviets, and frank discussions with the Japanese and Chinese. There is also a surprisingly close-up look at the