“David Milne has given us an absorbing history of the rise to power of Walt Rostow and his disastrous impact on US foreign policy. The first civilian to advise Kennedy to deploy combat troops to South Vietnam and the first to urge bombing the North, Rostow was a true ideologue who believed an American version of democracy could be exported to other countries—if necessary by force . . . A book that vividly illuminates the dangers of ideology in foreign policy, America’s Rasputin could not be more timely.”—John Gray, author of Black Mass

"In this short and brilliantly written book, award-winning author Gordon-Reed argues that the nation went from the best President to the worst during this most crucial period of its history . . . This concise, well-documented, and accessible book is recommended for all college and public libraries."—Theresa McDevitt, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Library, Library Journal