View a FREE sample

This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapters 9-10.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Isaacson suggest was a practical challenge that Truman faced when he began his presidency?
(a) Truman, as vice president, had not been part of any post-war planning meetings nor had he been given any military secrets, such as the existence of the atomic bomb.
(b) He was not well versed in foreign policy.
(c) Truman was replacing Roosevelt who had become identifiable with the presidency.
(d) Some people were not aware that he was the Vice President.

2. What does Isaacson report to be a weakness Bohlen exhibited in the execution of his profession?
(a) His penmanship was poor and he never learned to type.
(b) He was often too risky with investor's funds.
(c) His poor manners offended the keepers of protocol.
(d) His social proclivities caused embarrasments for other Administration officials.

3. What event does Isaacson claim caused tension between the U.S., Britain, and their Soviet Allies?
(a) Roosevelt discovered that Stalin had placed spies throughout his administration.
(b) The discovery of a mass grave of 10,000 Polish officers who had been summarily executed by the Red Army after the Nazi-Soviet Non Aggression Pact of 1939.
(c) Harriman discovered his private quarters had been bugged by Stalin.
(d) Harriman discovered that Stalin was conducting back channel negotiations with Hitler.

4. Under what circumstances did Robert Lovett claim to Isaacson that he met the Harriman Family?
(a) He met the Harriman Family while he visited his father's office with the Union Pacific Railroad.
(b) He met the Harriman Family on a Transatlantic cruise on his way to France.
(c) Lovett's father's private rail car was coupled onto E. H. Harriman's private train.
(d) He met the Harriman Family as he was moving to attend Yale Univeristy.

5. What does Isaacson report that John McCloy called, "Something that is worse than anything probably that ever happened in the world"?
(a) The rift that was coming between the Soviet Union and the United States.
(b) The dropping of the atom bomb on Hiroshima.
(c) The death of Franklin Roosevelt.
(d) The devastation caused to Germany from WWII.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Isaacson claim the six men profiled in The Wise Men represent?

2. Who does Isaacson report to have been the vice president the W. A. Harriman investment firm?

3. With what country did Bohlen become fascinated during late-night discussions at Harvard?

4. Who coined the term "Iron Curtain" in a cable to President Truman?

5. Isaacson reports that Averell Harriman took what position in the Roosevelt Administration?

(see the answer key)

This section contains 453 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample