A very worthwhile contribution to foreign relations literature. For students of US foreign relations it offers an interesting and broad introduction to the Johnson administration's attempts to grapple with world issues. For scholars and historians it presents a new perspective on Johnson.'
/49th Parallel/

'In this finely researched book, Jonathan Colman places himself at the head of Lyndon Johnson revisionism. Without ignoring the mistakes of LBJ's management of the Vietnam War, Colman makes a good case for seeing and judging Johnson's foreign policy in the round. This is an indispensable addition to the literature on President Lyndon Johnson.'
John Dumbrell, Professor of Government, Durham University


Drawing on recently declassified documents and the latest published research, Jonathan Colman's portrayal of Johnson's foreign policy challenges the traditional image of him as clumsy and inept in diplomatic matters. Colman contends that although the war in Vietnam could have been prosecuted more effectively, overall Johnson handled foreign policy very capably. In particular, he dealt with successive challenges to the NATO alliance in a skilled and intelligent manner, leaving it politically stronger when he left office in 1969 than it had been in 1963.

Key Features
Presents a fresh, general account of President Johnson's handling of US foreign relations
Considers US policies towards Vietnam, Britain and France, the NATO alliance, the Soviet Union and communist China, the Middle East, the Western Hemisphere, and the international economy
Essential reading for students of US foreign policy, the modern presidency and the Cold War

Jonathan Colman is Lecturer in International History at the University of Salford.