The Eden-Eisenhower Correspondence, 1955-1957

Edited by Peter G. Boyle

240 pp., 6.125 x 9.25, 8 illus. , notes, bibl., index

  • Paperback ISBN: 978-0-8078-8296-2
    Published: February 2012
  • E-book EPUB ISBN: 978-0-8078-7630-5
    Published: March 2006
  • E-book PDF ISBN: 979-8-8908-7067-4
    Published: March 2006

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The personal correspondence between President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Prime Minister Anthony Eden during the time they were simultaneously in office tells the dramatic story of a relationship that began with great promise but ended in division and estrangement. Many of the letters have only recently been declassified, making it possible for the first time to publish this unique historic collection in its entirety.

Peter G. Boyle's introduction, annotations, and conclusion provide context for the letters--details about the personalities and careers of Eden and Eisenhower and major issues that influenced the Anglo-American relationship up to 1955, such as relations with the Soviet Union, nuclear concerns, colonialism, the Middle and Far East, economic issues, and intelligence matters. The letters themselves offer an intimate look into the special connection between Britain and the United States through the often eloquent words of their leaders. They offer particular insight into the Suez Crisis of 1956, when Eden's and Eisenhower's views greatly diverged over the use of force to resolve the situation. Their personal relationship cooled from that point on and ended with Eden's resignation in January 1957.

About the Author

Peter G. Boyle is senior lecturer in the School of American and Canadian Studies at the University of Nottingham. He is the author of American-Soviet Relations: From the Russian Revolution to the Fall of Communism and editor of The Churchill-Eisenhower Correspondence, 1953-1955.


For more information about Peter G. Boyle, visit the Author Page.

Reviews

"Tell[s] us a good deal about the two protagonists and about the relationship at the top between the United States and Britain. . . . The contextual and biographical material gives the reader an excellent, synthetic overview of both the international politics and the historiography of the period and the two leaders."--Journal of Cold War Studies

"[The correspondence] forms a fascinating vignette, charting a relationship decaying from geniality through deception to disaster. The letters have been immaculately edited by Peter G. Boyle, with an introduction to the personalities and points at issue and with judicious concluding remarks."--Times Literary Supplement

"Boyle's book helps to put the Suez crisis in Anglo-American affairs on a new footing."--Canadian Journal of History

"The Eden-Eisenhower Correspondence, edited by Peter G. Boyle, makes fascinating reading, especially for the light it sheds on the Suez Crisis of late 1956. Though others, such as John Foster Dulles, played a role in that drama, the communication between Eden and Eisenhower--or the breakdown of communication--was what really counted. Rich in explanatory material and meticulously footnoted, this volume will be a rewarding addition to the library of anyone interested in the history of the time."--John S. D. Eisenhower

"By shedding valuable new light on key diplomatic watersheds, Peter Boyle's The Eden-Eisenhower Correspondence is obligatory reading for serious students and scholars of international history of the turbulent 1950s. An essential addition to any research library, specialists in history, political science, and political psychology will want to purchase this extraordinary volume for their personal collections."--Richard H. Immerman, Director of the Center for the Study of Force and Diplomacy, Temple University