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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Isaacson report that Averell Harriman's support for the successful presidential candidacy of Franklin Roosevelt was rewarded in 1932?
(a) Roosevelt named him the Ambassador to Russia.
(b) Roosevelt named him the Chief Administrative officer of the National Recovery Administration.
(c) Roosevelt named him Secretary of State.
(d) Roosevelt named him the head of the Council on Foreign Relations.

2. How did George Kennan develop his connection to Russia according to Isaacson?
(a) By working with Russian ambassadors to Germany.
(b) By studying under Russian professors who were experts in the Czarist era.
(c) By studying Russian in Paris.
(d) By reading War and Peace.

3. What unusual practice did Soviet pilots take as they flew in approach to Russian cities, according to Isaacson?
(a) They went into a "torpedo dive" to best avoid being hit by enemy fire.
(b) They shut off their engines and glided into a landing to avoid detections by subversives.
(c) They approached Russian cities at tree top level so as to be recognized by the Russian military.
(d) They did barrel rolls to impress Stalin with their skill.

4. What does Isaacson claim to be Bohlen's view of Bolshevism?
(a) He was nonjudgemental and unreflective about Bolshevism.
(b) He was fascinated by the tenants of Soviet Communism.
(c) He saw Bolshevism to be a threat to liberal progressivism in Western nations.
(d) He reviled in the violent destruction Bolsheviks were willing to employ to hold onto power.

5. Which president does Isaacson report Dean Acheson served as Assistant Secretary of State?
(a) Franklin Roosevelt.
(b) Dwight Eisenhower.
(c) John F. Kennedy.
(d) Harry Truman.

6. What event early in WWII does Isaacson quote John McCloy as calling, "...regrettable in the clear light of perfect hindsight"?
(a) Roosevelt's decision to prioritize the war in Europe rather than the Pacific.
(b) Naming Douglas MacArthur as Supreme Allied Commander in the Pacific.
(c) Becoming an ally with the Soviet Union.
(d) The relocation of citizens of Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast.

7. What decision did Harriman influence Stalin to make, according to Isaacson, to get around the decision of Secretary Stettinius?
(a) He advised Stalin to negotiate directly with Churchill to counter Stettinius' efforts.
(b) To send Vyacheslav Molotov to the grand opening of the United Nations so Harriman could accompany him on the trip.
(c) He used his connections in the Kremlin to navigate some of Stettinius's negotiations.
(d) He influenced Stalin to reject the replacement Stettinius planned to send.

8. Where does Isaacson claim Averell Harriman and Dean Acheson first met?
(a) In Paris.
(b) In New York City.
(c) At Groton Prep School.
(d) In Russia during WWII.

9. What does Isaacson claim to be the reason that Harriman and Dean Acheson supported making post-war loans to the Soviets?
(a) Both realized that the Soviet economy was unproductive and felt that loans could nudge the Soviets to a market economy.
(b) Both considered loans to be a show of good faith that the U.S. was willing to work with the Soviets in spite of ideological differences.
(c) Both saw the loans as a means of gaining bargaining leverage with the Kremlin.
(d) Both considered that the friendship of the Soviets could be bought.

10. What does Isaacson report Vice President Harry Truman was doing when news of President Roosevelt's death was first leaked?
(a) Truman was having dinner with his family as was his custom at that time of the day.
(b) Truman was in the Vice President's office adjacent to the Senate floor preparing to go home for the evening.
(c) Truman was in a foreign policy briefing with the Council of Foreign Relations.
(d) Truman was in Sam Rayburn's hideaway in the Capitol Building playing cards.

11. Which of the "Wise Men's" father does Isaacson claim worked for E.H. Harriman with Union Pacific Rail Road?
(a) Dean Acheson.
(b) Robert Lovett.
(c) Averell Harriman.
(d) Chip Bohlen.

12. What does Isaacson claim to be the most elite club at Yale?
(a) Ivy.
(b) Scroll and Key.
(c) Skull and Bones.
(d) DKE.

13. Under whom does Isaacson report Kennan studied for his chosen field?
(a) Joseph Grew.
(b) William Castle.
(c) Alexander Kirk.
(d) Angus Crawford.

14. How does Isaacson claim Bohlen distinguished himself in the service of his first assignment?
(a) He left a strong impression with his writing ability.
(b) He impressed members of the Roosevelt Administration with his insights into economics and industry.
(c) He impressed his superiors with his diligent interest in Russia and its language.
(d) He impressed the investors of W.A. Harriman with his knack for choosing growing companies in which to invest.

15. Which of the "Wise Men," according to Isaacson, attended The Hill School in Philadelphia?
(a) George Kennan.
(b) Robert Lovett.
(c) John McCloy.
(d) Chip Bohlen.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Isaacson claim to be Kennan's strong areas in his training?

2. What decision did Secretary of State Edward Stettinius make that Isaacson claimed frustrated Harriman?

3. What does Isaacson report that John McCloy called, "Something that is worse than anything probably that ever happened in the world"?

4. Which of the "Wise Men" does Isaacson report to have served in active service during WWI?

5. What does Isaacson suggest started becoming a concern to the six "Wise Men" shortly after WWII began?

(see the answer keys)

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