Act of Creation: The Founding of the United Nations : a Story of Superpowers, Secret Agents, Wartime Allies and Enemies, and Their Quest for a Peaceful World

Stephen C. Schlesinger

Basic Books, Sep 17, 2003 - Political Science - 374 pages

Schlesinger tells a pivotal and little-known story of how Secretary of State Edward Stettinius and the new American President, Harry Truman, picked up the pieces of the shattered campaign initiated by Franklin Roosevelt to create a "United Nations."

Contents

• Wilson and Roosevelt: 17
• The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Leo Pasvolsky: 33
• Roosevelts Last Acts: 53
• The Awkward Alliance: 73
• Secret Agents Big Powers: 93
• Americanizing the Conference: 111
• The Bitter TradeOff: 127
• FullCourt Press: 143
• The Amendment Marathon: 159
• The Regional Option: 175
• The TwentyThree Questions: 193
• The Mission to Moscow: 209
• The Final Battles: 227
• The Fall of Stettinius: 245
• The Ratification Story: 263
• Epilogue: 281
• Text of President Trumans Address: 289
• Charter of the United Nations: 295
• Notes: 323
• Bibliography: 349
• Index: 357

About the author

Stephen Schlesinger is Director of the World Policy Institute at the New School University in New York City. In the mid-1990s, he worked at the United Nations, and also served as a speechwriter and foreign policy advisor to New York's Governor Mario Cuomo for twelve years. He is a frequent contributor to magazines and newspapers, including the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, The Nation, and the New York Observer. He lives in New York City.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Act of Creation: The Founding of the United Nations : a Story of Superpowers, Secret Agents, Wartime Allies and Enemies, and Their Quest for a Peaceful World
• Author: Stephen C. Schlesinger
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Basic Books, 2003
• ISBN: 0813333245, 9780813333243
• Length: 374 pages
• Subjects: Political Science / International Relations / General