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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the "Six Wise Men" was chosen by President Johnson to assume authority over all diplomatic efforts to end the war in Vietnam according to Isaacson?
(a) Dean Acheson.
(b) George Kennan
(c) Averell Harriman.
(d) John McCloy.

2. When did the Soviet Union begin its "clampdown" on Czechoslovakia, according to Isaacson?
(a) December 7, 1947.
(b) March 3, 1948.
(c) February 25, 1948.
(d) June 24, 1950.

3. What does Isaacson claim to have been the primary purpose of the telegram to President Truman with the warning of Soviet aggression?
(a) To support a greater role for military actions against communist aggression.
(b) To give support for more military spending in the battle to confront communism.
(c) To become the basis for a propaganda campaign that helped to condense power within the foreign policy elite.
(d) To assist military chiefs in Congressional testimony.

4. How did the Pentagon recommend the government should respond to the Soviet Union's possession of nuclear weapons, according to Isaacson?
(a) The Pentagon recommended a national campaign to inform citizens of the need for increased military spending to keep the communist threat at bay.
(b) The Pentagon recommended an increase in A-bomb production.
(c) The Pentagon recommended increased budgets for all possible strategies so the country could be kept safe from communist aggression.
(d) The Pentagon recommended increased presence and support for conventional war to avoid a nuclear confrontation.

5. Who does Isaacson report to be the first of the "Six Wise Men" whom Kennedy sought out for advice after his election to the presidency in 1960?
(a) Dean Acheson.
(b) Averell Harriman.
(c) Robert Lovett.
(d) George Kennan.

6. After the atomic bombs had been detonated in Japan, what does Isaacson indicate to be the next challenge for the government in the post-war era?
(a) Restoring Europe's economy.
(b) Preserving Germany's industrial capacity.
(c) Taking steps to control atomic weapons.
(d) Finding work for all the veterans.

7. What was the document that Isaacson claims to be the blueprint for national security policy through the 1960's?
(a) NSC-68.
(b) The "Long Telegram."
(c) The Pumpkin Papers.
(d) The Acheson memo.

8. What does Isaacson report that Clark Clifford wrote in a campaign memo to use the Soviet Crisis to help President Truman's re-election campaign for 1948?
(a) "Never waste a good crisis."
(b) "Great wars define great leaders."
(c) "In times of crisis, the American citizen tends to back up his President."
(d) "This gives us the opportunity to make voters fear a change at this time."

9. Why does Isaacson claim MacArthur's plans were blocked?
(a) Because the bombing of the bridges might provoke the Chinese to take harsher actions.
(b) Because the Administration had a strict policy of keeping American soldiers within the boundaries of South Korea.
(c) Because the Administration feared communist aggression within the continental United States.
(d) Because the foreign policy elite feared losing influence if a military success ended the conflict in Korea.

10. Why did Dean Acheson believe the U.S. should get involved in the war between North and South Korea, according to Isaacson?
(a) To preserve the doctrine of containment.
(b) To preserve strategic positions in the Far East.
(c) To save the Western Alliance in Europe.
(d) To prove to Stalin and Mao that all of their imperialistic actions would be confronted.

11. What did Gen. MacArthur recommend, according to Isaacson, to stem the flow of Chinese soldiers into North Korea?
(a) Avoiding a mainland war with the communists.
(b) Opening relations with China to negotiate a settlement.
(c) Using nuclear weapons to wipe out China and Russia.
(d) Bombing out bridges over the Yalu River.

12. What does Isaacson report to have been the reaction to communist tactics against the Marshall Plan?
(a) The Truman Administration had the evidence of the corrosive nature of communism to convince the country its steps were the right ones.
(b) Congress initiated the House Un-American Activities Committee.
(c) The American public began looking for similar activities within their communities.
(d) Congress began to realize that the battle against communism was going to be long and costly.

13. What was the only concession the Japanese requested for its surrender to end WWII, according to Isaacson?
(a) That Russia not be allowed to occupy the island.
(b) That Japanese Americans kept in detention camps be allowed to repatriate with their homeland.
(c) That Japan could keep its emperor.
(d) That their American occupiers limit their personal interaction with Japanese citizens.

14. Who does Isaacson report that President Truman chose to administer the European Recovery Plan (The Marshall Plan) in Europe?
(a) Averell Harriman.
(b) Dean Acheson.
(c) Paul Hoffman.
(d) General Lucius Clay.

15. According to Isaacson, why did did George Kennan oppose the development of more powerful nuclear weapons?
(a) Kennan felt that communism was unsustainable especially when its systems were attempting to build empires.
(b) Because Kennan felt the Soviets were paranoid and a bigger bomb would make them more dangerous.
(c) Kennan believed the confrontation with communism was a social battle, not military.
(d) Kennan believed that confronting the Soviets with conventional forces would avoid nuclear annihilation.

Short Answer Questions

1. When and where was the first atomic bomb used on Japan?

2. Who does Isaacson report to be the last of the "Six Wise Men" whom President-Elect Kennedy called before he made his choice for Secretary of State?

3. What does Isaacson report that President Truman did to decide America's response to the Soviet Union's possession of nuclear weapons?

4. What was the major contributing factor to causing the fate of the "Six Wise Men" after the election of Eisenhower?

5. What office did President-Elect Kennedy offer to the first of the "Six Wise Men" whose counsel he sought?

(see the answer keys)

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