Carlucci Versus Kissinger

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This book focuses on the United States' views and political actions in Portugal during the democratic transition, and should not be taken for a history of the Portuguese revolution. In other words, its aim is to evaluate the impact of American actions in the final outcome of the transition from an authoritarian regime to democracy in Portugal. To that end, extensive research was carried out during a four-year period, both in the US and in Portugal, privileging primary sources, especially American and Portuguese archival materials, many of which were previously unpublished.

Reviews

This volume brings back memories of a long since supposedly settled issue on the views of Henry Kissinger and Frank Carlucci on how we handled a potential Communist takeover of Portugal's government by the Portuguese Communists and their international allies and supporters. Suffice it to say that the communists' attempt to put themselves in charge of a NATO ally would have led to serious problems for the Alliance. Suffice it to say as well, that thanks to the efforts of the other members of the alliance the Communist efforts to take over the government were thwarted. There is a certain degree of mythology over who crafted this victory of good over evil. In my view that is an irrelevant debate. What is important is that whether Frank Carlucci or Henry Kissinger is the architect of this victory, it was a victory that assured the continued strength of the NATO Alliance. -- Lawrence Eagleburger, former Secretary of State
Bernardino Gomes and Tiago Moreira de Sa provide an important scholarly contribution with their study of U.S.-Portuguese relations, a subject that has been neglected by the discipline of American diplomatic history. Not only have the authors made impressive use of documents in Washington and Lisbon, they have interviewed some key historical figures in Portugal's transition to democracy, including Prime Minister Mario Soares and U.S. Ambassador Frank Carlucci, whose record as a Kissinger subordinate will surprise many readers. -- Lubna Z. Qureshi, author of Nixon, Kissinger, and Allende: U.S. Involvement in the 1973 Coup in Chile

Author Bio

Bernardino Gomes is president of the Commisso Portuguesa do Atlantico.
Tiago Moreira de S is guest assistant professor in New University of Lisbon and researcher at the Portuguese Institute for International Relations.