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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Isaacson record came of Kennan's concern regarding confronting Soviet Communism?
(a) It was taken by the House UnAmerican Activities committee to guide its efforts to prosecute communist activities throughout the country.
(b) It became the foundation for using American embassies as the hub of spying activities against foreign subversives.
(c) An "office of special projects" was started in the CIA.
(d) It was shelved by higher members of the Truman Administration but acted upon by the Eisenhower Administration.

2. Which two of the "Six Wise Men" does Isaacson report were called to brief the Kennedy Administration on the two crises that faced them?
(a) Charles Bohlen and George Kennan.
(b) John McCloy and Charles Bohlen.
(c) Robert Lovett and George Kennan.
(d) Averell Harriman and Dean Acheson.

3. 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) Averell Harriman.
(b) George Kennan
(c) Dean Acheson.
(d) John McCloy.

4. What does Isaacson claim to be the the Soviet's view of keeping security?
(a) The Soviets viewed security in terms of dominating and occupying as much territory as possible.
(b) The Soviets saw massive military buildups as the primary method of achieving security.
(c) The Soviets saw security as the primary goal of all of its imperial efforts.
(d) The Soviets viewed security in terms of seeing everyone as a potential threat.

5. How does Isaacson report that Clark Clifford understood the rivalry between the U.S. and the Soviet Union had to be framed to make the general public support confronting the Communists?
(a) Clifford understood the rivalry had, "...to be framed as a contest between the forces of darkness and light."
(b) Clifford understood the rivalry had, "...to be framed as a personal cause of free American talent overcoming international slavery."
(c) Clifford understood the rivalry had, "...to be framed as fearfully as possible to cajole the general public to put unquestioning support for the wisdom of its government."
(d) Clifford understood the rivalry had, "...to be framed as a potential threat to the freedom and security of every individual in the country."

6. Who does Isaacson claim blocked MacArthur's plans for slowing the flow of Chinese soldiers into the Korean War?
(a) Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Lovett.
(b) Under Secretary of State Dean Acheson.
(c) President Harry Truman.
(d) White House Liaison with the Korean command George Kennan.

7. 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?
(a) John McCloy.
(b) Robert Lovett.
(c) Averell Harriman.
(d) Dean Acheson.

8. What was the major contributing factor to causing the fate of the "Six Wise Men" after the election of Eisenhower?
(a) It was the first time the Republicans held power in 20 years and they wanted to start with their people in power.
(b) The plans made by the "Wise Men" were proving to have disastrous economic consequences for the country.
(c) After nearly 25 years of depression, war, and turmoil, Americans demanded a return to policies of non-intervention.
(d) The general public began to see America's foreign policy elite had been reserving power to itself with the continual appeals for wars.

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

10. What concern does Isaacson claim motivated Under Secretary of State Dean Acheson to encourage America's financial support for Greece?
(a) That an economic collapse in Greece would expose the weakness of America's "dollar diplomacy."
(b) That an economic collapse in Greece would be widely seen as a failure of market systems.
(c) That an economic collapse in Greece would lead to a general economic collapse throughout Europe.
(d) A possible takeover of Greece by communists as a result of a civil war.

11. Who eventually took the position of Ambassador to Vietnam, according to Isaacson?
(a) McGeorge Bundy.
(b) General Maxwell Taylor.
(c) Robert Lovett.
(d) Dean Acheson.

12. Who does Isaacson claim that Dean Acheson, Robert Lovett, and John McCloy suggested for President-Elect Kennedy's Secretary of State?
(a) Dean Rusk.
(b) David Bruce.
(c) Paul Nitze.
(d) Bill Fulbright.

13. Why was the Johnson Administation's plan to settle the Vietnamese conflict rejected, according to Isaacson?
(a) The Congress rejected it.
(b) The South Vietnamese government rejected it.
(c) The New York Times criticized it.
(d) Middle America feared communist expansion.

14. What event at the end of 1967 does Isaacson suggest influenced the Johnson Administration that America had to withdraw from Vietnam?
(a) Race riots protesting the disproportionate number of Black soldiers stationed in Vietnam compared to their percentage of the population.
(b) Public opinion polls showing Johnson could not be re-elected if Vietnam was not settled.
(c) Antiwar protests threatening college campuses.
(d) The Tet Offensive.

15. What were the three questions President Truman wrote regarding America's confrontation with Soviet aggression?
(a) "Can the communists really support such a spread of empire? Does communism have any real chance of surviving in our system? How much is this going to cost the government?"
(b) "What is our move when Russia moves? Should we move first? Who pulls the trigger?"
(c) "Can we afford to confront the Soviets? Will the voters support us? Can the country survive more wars?"
(d) "Will Russia move first? Who pulls the trigger? Then where do we go?"

Short Answer Questions

1. Upon whom does Isaacson claim that Stimson relied to help him achieve his goal regarding the control of the atom bomb?

2. Why does Isaacson suggest Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union and Mao Tse Tung of China gave support to North Korea's invasion of South Korea?

3. What does Isaacson cite as "...perhaps the most dramatic and significant (conversion) of any postwar American statesman"?

4. What area of the world did Averell Harriman try to encourage the Johnson Administration to show more interest according to Isaacson?

5. What did Winston Churchill recommend as a solution to the challenge of growing Soviet Power?

(see the answer keys)

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