The Life and Work of General Andrew J. Goodpaster: Best Practices in National Security Affairs

(Hardback)

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General Andrew J. Goodpaster (1915-2005) was a brilliant military leader, a scholar and, most of all, an exceptional presidential adviser who served under seven successive administrations. A respected strategist, he participated at the highest levels of government in many of the most important decisions of the second half of the twentieth century. As President Eisenhowers Staff Secretary, he was the de facto originator of the National Security Council process and served as a mentor and role model to his successors down to the present day. He was involved in many security challenges, such as establishing and sustaining NATO, planning for nuclear weapons and arms control, and implementing dtente. He developed a collaborative method of approaching national security affairs a style that reflected a strong capacity to engage effectively the necessary people to work together to achieve the best possible outcomes. In doing so, he learned and taught best practices in national security that still influence decision making today.

This biography shows the importance of experienced soldier-scholars with high integrity on national security teams and provides the first systematic mining of the documents Goodpaster wrote on national security. Organized chronologically, it demonstrates how Goodpaster was able to adapt best practices to a constantly changing political, military, economic and technological environment. It also explains why he was so frequently selected as an insider in national security decision making. His life and work reveal how best to approach complex national security problems and the kind of collaborative leadership needed to get the job done. Still today, his method confirms General Scowcrofts view that Goodpaster is too important to ignore.

Reviews

Richard Nelsons excellent biography of General Andrew Goodpaster is a valuable account of the finest officer of our era. I was fortunate to have Goodpaster as a colleague, mentor, and close friend for almost 70 years. His leadership, intellect, and character were unsurpassed among his contemporaries. Goodpaster was a trusted advisor to Generals Marshall and Eisenhower and a valued counselor in the Pentagon and the White House. More than any other officer, he contributed to the thinking and actions which facilitated our successful conclusion of the Cold War. Richard Nelson's accurate and insightful study of General Goodpaster is a must-read for scholars of American military history. -- Edward Rowny, served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam, rose to Lieutenant General, and was President Reagans chief negotiator at strategic nuclear arms talks
General Goodpaster was my hero. Nelsons thorough treatment of Goodpaster goes a long way toward explaining why I admire this great American. Goodpaster had an inside view at the highest levels during the closing phases of World War II, throughout the Cold War and in the post-Cold War transition. From this perspective, Goodpaster had an unrivalled understanding of best practices for conducting national security affairs. In telling this story, Nelson insightfully captures Goodpasters mind, method and manner. I highly recommend this book. -- Brent Scowcroft, Lt.General (ret.), National Security Advisor for President George H.W. Bush (1989-1993) and President Gerald R. Ford (1975-1977)
National security officials who want to know more about the formation of the American national security state or who are searching for a role model in conducting public service may be interested in this book. Nelsons biography is comprehensive when it comes to Goodpasters education and roles. He strikes a good balance between describing Goodpaster the Army officer and public servant and Goodpaster the family man. * The Strategy Bridge *

Author Bio

C. Richard Nelson was Director of the International Security Program at the Atlantic Council of the United States. He has served in the National Intelligence Council at the CIA and in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He has also taught political science at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, at National Defense University, and at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.