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!

How does Isaacson claim Joseph Stalin's temperament changed between Harriman's first and second meetings? (from Chapter 8)

In the first meeting Stalin was panicked and demanding, but in the second meeting Stalin was calm and reasonable.

In the first meeting Stalin was scheming and evasive, in the second meeting he was congenial and open.

In the first meeting Stalin was aloof and disinterested, in the second meeting he was eager and cooperative.

In the first meeting Stalin was candid and friendly, but in the second meeting he was confrontational, accusing and paranoid.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dean Acheson.

President Truman.

General Douglas MacArthur.

The U.S. Congress.

What does Isaacson suggest was a practical challenge that Truman faced when he began his presidency? (from Chapters 9-10)

Truman, as vice president, had not been part of any post-war planning meetings nor had he been given any military secrets, such as the existence of the atomic bomb.

Truman was replacing Roosevelt who had become identifiable with the presidency.

Some people were not aware that he was the Vice President.

He was not well versed in foreign policy.