[risk]

This article is the latest installment of the Boston Globe's Mind of the Administration series. Sam Tanenhaus is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair. Some links to articles which belie a certain unwillingness to take a strong stand on communism on his part follow.

1. Un-American Activities - Review of Arthur Herman's Joseph McCarthy: Reexamining the Life and Legacy of America's Most Hated Senator
2. The Red Scare - Michael Ybarra criticizes Tanenhaus' harsh treatment of McCarthy in 'The Red Scare': an Exchange as superficial.
3. A Vast Right-Wing Cry of Treason - Review by Tanenhaus of Anne Coulter's Treason, analyzing her hardline stance.
4. ‘Vanity Fair’ Writer Distorts Wolfowitz’s Words - Criticism of a Tanenhaus distortion of comments by Paul Woflowitz. Found on Cron Watch; by Cinnamon Stillwell

[risk]

ping: Richard Pipes is an interesting figure from the Ford and Reagan years, of whom I hadn't heard until I read this article. I question Tanenhaus's description of our strategy in Iraq, but some of this history and the comments by Pipes are interesting.

[Valin]

His influence peaked in 1981-82 when, as an official at the National Security Council, he helped steer Ronald Reagan toward the belief that the Soviet regime could and must be defeated.

I'm sure this was a REAL hard sell.

I'm reminded of something George Wills wrote about President Reagan's frist cabinet meeting.
(I parphrase) Reagan walks in and says you want to know what our policy is? Taxes are to high, the government is to big, the Soviets are evil. You guys take care of the details.