Nixon did not anticipate the extent to which Kissinger, whom he barely knew when he appointed him national-security adviser in 1969, would be envious and high-strung - a maintenance project of the first order. Robert Dallek adviseranticipateappoint share on social
To be sure, Kennedy did not discount the importance of words in rallying the nation to meet its foreign and domestic challenges. Winston Churchill's powerful exhortations during World War II set a standard he had long admired. Kennedy was hardly unmindful of how important a great inaugural address could be. Robert Dallek addressadmirechallenge share on social
I think the public can t accept the idea that someone as inconsequential as Oswald could have killed someone as consequential as Kennedy. They don t want to believe the world is that chaotic. It is. Robert Dallek acceptchaoticconsequential Change image and share on social
Allegations that President Clinton pardoned Marc Rich partly in return for donations to his presidential library have raised questions about the value of such institutions and the federal appropriations that support them. Robert Dallek allegationappropriationclinton share on social
Ronald Reagan in foreign affairs, I think, was someone who had certain, very general ideas, general propositions by which he lives: To combat communism, to build up the American military power to assure our national security against any conceivable threat. Robert Dallek affairamericanassure share on social
A national government using New Deal programs and the massive defense spending beginning with World War II and continuing through the Cold War was Johnson's vehicle for expanding the Southern economy and making it, as he hoped, one of the more prosperous regions of the country. Robert Dallek begincoldcontinue share on social
What makes war interesting for Americans is that we don't fight war on our soil, we don't have direct experience of it, so there's an openness about the meanings we give to it. Robert Dallek americandirectexperience Change image and share on social
President Obama can talk about having no grand schemes and making no big gains, but the reality is he can't get anything of significance through Congress. Robert Dallek bigcongressgain Change image and share on social
Concealing one's true medical condition from the voting public is a time-honored tradition of the American presidency. Robert Dallek americanconcealcondition Change image and share on social
Despite its flaws, the American electoral system has produced Lincoln, the two Roosevelts, and Harry Truman. Robert Dallek americanelectoralflaw Change image and share on social