Hope and History

vanden Heuvel William J.

Description

Hope and History is both a memoir and a call-to-action for the renewal of faith in democracy and America. US Ambassador William J. vanden Heuvel presents his most important public speeches and writings, compiled and presented over eight decades of adventure and public service, woven together with anecdotes of his colorful life as a second-generation American, a soldier, a lawyer, a political activist, and a diplomat. He touches upon themes that resonate as much today as they did when he first encountered them: the impact of heroes and mentors; the tragedy of the Vietnam War; the problems of racism and desegregation in America; tackling the crisis in America's prisons; America and the Holocaust; and the plight and promise of the United Nations. Along the way, he allows us to share his journey with some of the great characters of American history: Eleanor Roosevelt, William J. "Wild Bill" Donovan, President John F. Kennedy and RFK, Harry S. Truman, and Jimmy Carter.Throughout, vanden Heuvel persuades us that there is still room for optimism in public life. He shows how individuals, himself among them, have tackled some of America's most intractable domestic and foreign policy issues with ingenuity and goodwill, particularly under the leadership of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and those who sought and still seek to follow in his footsteps. He is not afraid to challenge the hatred and bigotry that are an unfortunate but undeniable part of the American fabric. He exhorts us to embrace all the challenges and opportunities that life in the United States can offer.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• USA
• Memoir
• 20th century
• History of the Americas
• États-Unis

Informations

• Publié par: Cornell University Press
• Date de parution: 15 mai 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781501738180
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

HopeandHistory

HopeandHistory

AMemoirofTumultuousTimes

WilliamJ.vandenHeuvel

ForewordbyDouglasBrinkley

Cornell University Press Ithaca and London

Copyright © 2019 by William J. vanden Heuvel All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Cornell University Press, Sage House, 512 East State Street, Ithaca, New York 14850. Visit our website at cornellpress.cornell.edu. First published 2019 by Cornell University Press Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data

Names: Vanden Heuvel, William J. (William Jacobus), 1930– author. Title: Hope and history : a memoir of tumultuous times / by William vanden Heuvel. Description: Ithaca : Cornell University Press, 2019. | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2018060441 (print) | LCCN 2019000907 (ebook) | ISBN 9781501738180 (pdf) | ISBN 9781501738197 (ret) | ISBN 9781501738173 (cloth : alk. paper) Subjects: LCSH: Vanden Heuvel, William J. (William Jacobus), 1930– | Ambassadors—United States—Biography. | Statesmen— United States—Biography. | United States—Politics and government— 1945–1989. | United States—Foreign relations—1945–1989. Classification: LCC E840.8.V36 (ebook) | LCC E840.8.V36 A3 2019 (print) | DDC 327.2092 [B]—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018060441

Cover photo: Robert F. Kennedy and William J. vanden Heuvel, January 31, 1967.

In memory of my parents, Alberta and Joost vanden Heuvel and my sister, Jennie vanden Heuvel Hoechner and in loving dedication to my family:

Melinda Katrina, Stephen & Nika; Wendy, Brad & Lila; Ashley, Alex, Nicholas, Felix & Isabelle; John, MarieNoelle, Annabelle & Olivia; Carol, David, Megan & Daniel; Bruce, Judy, Bryan & Bobby; Carol, John & the Rochester clan

Historysays,don’thope On this side of the grave. But then, once in a lifetime The longedfor tidal wave Of justice can rise up, And hope and history rhyme.

—SeamusHeaney,“TheCureatTroy:AVersionofSophocles’Philoctetes”

Contents

ForewordbyDouglasBrinkley

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1.GrowingUpintheAgeofRoosevelt

2.HeroesandMentors:RogerBaldwinand William J. “Wild Bill” Donovan

3.RFK,PrinceEdwardCounty,andtheRevolutionforJustice

4.PrisonsandPrisoners

5.TheCarterPresidencyandtheUnitedNations

6.AmericaandtheHolocaust

7.TheRooseveltLegacy

8.ReflectionsonYearstoCome

Notes

Bibliography

Index

xi

xv

1

3

14

60

95

126

162

190

237

245

249

255