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Saving Freedom
- Truman, the Cold War, and the Fight for Western Civilization
- Narrated by: Joe Scarborough
- Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins
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Publisher's Summary
History called on Harry Truman to unite the Western world against Soviet communism, but first he had to rally Republicans and Democrats behind America’s most dramatic foreign policy shift since George Washington delivered his farewell address. How did one of the least prepared presidents to walk into the Oval Office become one of its most successful?
The year was 1947. The Soviet Union had moved from being America’s uneasy ally in the Second World War to its most feared enemy. With Joseph Stalin’s ambitions pushing westward, Turkey was pressured from the east while communist revolutionaries overran Greece. The British Empire was battered from its war with Hitler and suddenly teetering on the brink of financial ruin. Only America could afford to defend freedom in the West, and the effort was spearheaded by a president who hadn’t even been elected to that office. But Truman would wage a domestic political battle that carried with it the highest of stakes, inspiring friends and foes alike to join in his crusade to defend democracy across the globe.
In Saving Freedom, Joe Scarborough recounts the historic forces that moved Truman toward his country’s long twilight struggle against Soviet communism, and how this untested president acted decisively to build a lasting coalition that would influence America’s foreign policy for generations to come.
On March 12, 1947, Truman delivered an address before a joint session of Congress announcing a policy of containment that would soon become known as the Truman Doctrine. That doctrine pledged that the United States would “support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.” The untested president’s policy was a radical shift from 150 years of isolationism, but it would prove to be the pivotal moment that guaranteed Western Europe’s freedom, the American Century’s rise, and the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union.
Truman’s triumph over the personal and political struggles that confronted him following his ascension to the presidency is an inspiring tale of American leadership, fierce determination, bipartisan unity, and courage in the face of the rising Soviet threat. Saving Freedom explores one of the most pivotal moments of the 20th century, a turning point when patriotic Americans of both political parties worked together to defeat tyranny.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
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Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Sparky da Man
- 2020-11-29
An engaging review of a remarkable president
This is a very good book.
It does not pretend to be a comprehensive biography of president Harry Truman. Rather, it is a serious and admiring review of President Truman’s outsized role in forming the foundation of the world I have grown up in.
I am now nearly 70 years old, and while I have read David McCullough excellent biography of President Truman, I was not fully aware of the impact his presidency has had on the world.
This is a well written and excellently narrated book and desires the time and attention of every American interested in how we happen to be where we are today and to glimpse a political environment in which truly momentous things could be, and we’re, accomplished.
14 people found this helpful
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- Joseph C. Wilson
- 2020-12-06
Wish Trump had read this history
Joe Scarborough serves up the history of why America needs NATO and our alliance with western democracies. Harry Truman was a great man who rose to fight communism, while Trump failed to understand the threat from Russia.
10 people found this helpful
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- Ted Jr
- 2020-12-05
Historical accounting of an important time.
Never a history buff I enjoyed this telling of Truman's accidental rise to the presidency.
7 people found this helpful
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- WJHickman
- 2020-12-09
Focus is Greece not Truman
It is a very informative book about Greek cold war history, not one about Truman. 3/25 into it as I kept waiting for Truman to be the focus I regretted not asking for a refund before listening to so much of it.
5 people found this helpful
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- Jean
- 2021-03-19
Notable
This is another book that looks at a specific topic or issue in a president’s life. It is not a biography. I noticed this is becoming a trend now to dissect an issue in history or a president/prime minister’s life rather than writing about the entire event.
The book is well written and researched. Scarborough focuses primarily on President Truman’s foreign policy achievements. Truman’s major concern after WWII was rebuilding a starving and destroyed Europe; and, Stalin’s aggression and how to stop it before all of Europe became part of the USSR. The author does provide a bit of background for those not familiar with the topic. I was interested, considering today’s dysfunctional Senate, how Truman and Arthur Vandenberg worked together. I noticed that Scarborough quoted Winston Churchill “Truman more than any other man saved civilization”. If you are interested in this topic, you will enjoy reading this book.
The book is eight hours and five minutes. Joe Scarborough does a good job narrating the book.
3 people found this helpful
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- nancy haney
- 2020-12-28
Surprisingly, Joe needs a reading coach!
Fascinating coverage of the beginnings of the Cold War. I understand the history of the last 75 years much, much better. Accessible and well organized. But the audio delivery is not conversational or fluid, and there are even the occasional mispronounced word and name. Maybe better to read the print edition in this case.
3 people found this helpful
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- Richard Szymanski
- 2020-12-11
american exceptionalism
an example of american history and exceptionalism i didnt know or understand until now. trumams story is one of preservence and determination to achieve and succeed despite overwhelming obsticals. a true patriot, not like what we see in todays political climate.
3 people found this helpful
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- JB
- 2020-12-09
Excellent History for Our Time
Well researched. Well documented. Well presented. Gives the reader a very good background to the current state of affairs.
3 people found this helpful
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- Norm the Nonfiction Reader
- 2021-05-20
A history well worth your time.
It is a story worth knowing. This book will also help America stop our drift toward Autocracy pushed by the January 6, 2021 insurrection attack on the Capitol Building.
2 people found this helpful
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- Scott Fagergren
- 2020-12-27
A Critical In-Depth Narrative of the Foundation of Post-War U.S. Foreign Policy, so Critical Today!
An Insightful, Informative, Timely in-depth recounting of the critical formation and implementation of both the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan that set United States foreign policy for 50 years following World War Two. Joe’s inspirational writing and narration bring home this story that all of us need to understand and use to maintain Our Leading Position in this troubled but hopeful World!
2 people found this helpful