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

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 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.

After Roosevelt and Churchill made their agreement, what became the responsibility of Averell Harriman? (from Chapter 8)

To travel to Moscow to offer aid to the government of the Soviet Union in their confrontation against Germany.

To direct the formation of foreign policy from Washington.

To direct the shift in the balance of power between England and the United States.

To act as a strong man against Stalin's bluntness.

What does Isaacson report a member of the Nixon Administration claimed to be Nixon's views of the old foreign policy establishment? (from Chapter 24)

Nixon was "suspicious and distrusting" of it.

Nixon both "revered and despised" it.

Nixon "respected and sought after" it.

Nixon was "ambivalent" to it.

According to Isaacson, why did did George Kennan oppose the development of more powerful nuclear weapons? (from Chapter 16-17)

Because Kennan felt the Soviets were paranoid and a bigger bomb would make them more dangerous.

Kennan believed that confronting the Soviets with conventional forces would avoid nuclear annihilation.

Kennan felt that communism was unsustainable especially when its systems were attempting to build empires.

Kennan believed the confrontation with communism was a social battle, not military.

What does Isaacson report Vice President Harry Truman was doing when news of President Roosevelt's death was first leaked? (from Chapters 9-10)

Truman was having dinner with his family as was his custom at that time of the day.

Truman was in Sam Rayburn's hideaway in the Capitol Building playing cards.

Truman was in a foreign policy briefing with the Council of Foreign Relations.

Truman was in the Vice President's office adjacent to the Senate floor preparing to go home for the evening.