Scott J. Hemmer Bowen High School

I found The Specter of Communism to be an excellent read, as well as, a rich resource in the roots of the Cold War. Leffler does a fine job of presenting the subject in a neat, efficient one hundred thirty-page book. The book is so tight, that I fund myself re-reading pages to make sure I was reading what I thought I was reading.

I believe Leffler's main purpose is to show that the Cold War was not a forgone conclusion after World War II. It has always been my understanding, that the U.S. were allies with the Soviets only to stop the greater evil of Hitler and Nazism. Once Hitler had been defeated, U.S. then would focus on defeating communism, Leffler agrues, that the U. S. was fully aware and understood, how the Soviets would response each time the U.S. made a new policy (Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan and the creation of NATO) in regards to Europe or communism. Leffler explains that President Truman is willing to risk angering the Soviet Union, if it means a non-communist government in Italy, France and West or United Germany. Stalin does not trust the West and sees each policy by Truman as an afront to the Soviet Union. As each policy is made and reacted to, both sides become entrenched and an eerie calm that was the Cold War developed.

The part of the book I enjoyed the most was the first half. I knew that the Allies invaded Russia in 1918 to depose the Communists and get Russia back into the war against Germany. However, what I considered to be an isolated and half-hearted attempt was to have serious ramifications in dealing with the Soviets after World War Two. The Soviets never forgot and until they had enough nuclear weapons, fully expected a U.S. invasion supported by Great Britain and France. Also, President Wilson's policy of trying to keep communist Russia isolated from the rest of the world, became U.S. Policy for the entire life of the Soviet Union. President Wilson felt that communism could only survive in countries in disarray or in complete economic melt-down. Perhaps, as Truman was not appreciated for his contributions until after the Cold War, Wilson is not given credit for the foundation his administration laid.

In conclusion, I think Leffler believes the Cold War could have been avoided. My opinion is that both governments pursued policies, that each felt they had to pursue in order to survive (Soviet Union) or to create a world that would best suit its need (U.S.). Truman had to get elected and keep the Democratic party together. Stalin's was to create a large enough buffer from the West to give the Soviet Union the security it felt it earned from the sacrifices made during World War Two. The Spectre of Communism is a great resource book and it poses the question every historian love: What if?

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