Chapter 3-4 Summary and Analysis

After World War I, America entered a period of isolationism. Harriman and Lovett, both understanding the importance of trade and global involvement, made careers on Wall Street. Harriman expanded his shipping interests and founded the investment banking house of W.A. Harriman & Company in 1919. His Hamburg American Company began talks with the Soviets in 1922 about establishing a joint shipping company which became operational a few months later. He negotiated deals with Trotsky in Moscow. In Russia, he traveled by private rail car.

Harriman always liked meeting the famous and powerful because he enjoyed the conversations he had with them. He was opposed to Communism but found it profitable to trade with the Soviets. Eventually he took the advice of Winston Churchill and stopped doing business with the Russians.

Harriman was introduced to cafe society by his second wife Marie...