The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made: Acheson, Bohlen,... Quiz

Take our free The Wise Men quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your knowledge. Determine which chapters, themes and styles you already know and what you need to study for your upcoming essay, midterm, or final exam. Take the free quiz now!

Why did Dean Acheson believe the U.S. should get involved in the war between North and South Korea, according to Isaacson? (from Chapter 16-17)

To preserve the doctrine of containment.

To save the Western Alliance in Europe.

To prove to Stalin and Mao that all of their imperialistic actions would be confronted.

To preserve strategic positions in the Far East.

What does Isaacson cite as "...perhaps the most dramatic and significant (conversion) of any postwar American statesman"? (from Chapters 11-12)

The conversion of Harry Truman from being a non-interventionist to being an internationalist.

The conversion of Averell Harriman from a market capitalist to seeing the value of socialism in some systems.

The conversion of John McCloy to being an internationalist to being an isolationist.

The conversion of Dean Acheson to a hard-line stance on dealing with the Soviets.

How does Isaacson claim President Truman planned to fight for support for the Marshall Plan in Congress? (from Chapters 13-14)

By vetoing every spending bill until the plan was accepted in Congress.

By calling for an emergency session of Congress and winning support for an "interim aid" bill.

By campaigning across the country to rally popular support for the effort.

By advising Democrat congressmen to amend planks of the plan to popular legislation so it would eventually get passed out of the notice of political opponents.

What concern does Isaacson claim motivated Under Secretary of State Dean Acheson to encourage America's financial support for Greece? (from Chapters 13-14)

A possible takeover of Greece by communists as a result of a civil war.

That an economic collapse in Greece would be widely seen as a failure of market systems.

That an economic collapse in Greece would expose the weakness of America's "dollar diplomacy."

That an economic collapse in Greece would lead to a general economic collapse throughout Europe.

Who does Isaacson report to have committed the U.S. to active ground war in Korea? (from Chapter 16-17)

Dean Acheson.

The U.S. Congress.

General Douglas MacArthur.

President Truman.