“With a combination of his personal knowledge of men and events in the first Truman administration and his careful study of newly-released documents and papers... Robert Donovan has written the best overall volume yet to appear on the 1945-48 years of the Truman presidency. Thoroughly aware of Mr. Truman's contradictory shifts between liberal and conservative viewpoints and between soft and tough lines toward the Soviet Union, he keeps in balance his account of the chaotic times that produced the problems which Mr. Truman had to face... He brings sympathetic understanding to a President caught in the grasp of post World War II realities. It will help us all to understand better the period and the men who had to deal with the issues.” — Forrest C. Pogue, Biographer of General George C. Marshall “From his own incomparable observation post at the Truman White House, as well as from scholarly sources and newly opened records, Robert Donovan has fashioned a masterly account worthy of his subject: pungent, plain-spoken, unvarnished. A readable, fair-minded, solid account of a remarkable presidency” — James MacGregor Burns “Conflict and Crisis is an extraordinarily fine blend of journalistic technique and historical method. Mr. Donovan writes very well, and his “story is based upon extensive research in the major primary sources as well as relevant printed material. He is thoroughly conversant with the work of academic historians and adds his reporter’s gift for description and narrative. His judgments are consistently sound and balanced. This is the best and fullest account yet of Truman’s first term.” —Alonzo L. Hamby, Author and Professor of History, Ohio University ““Fascinating. I have enjoyed reliving those years with Harry Truman, relearning things I knew before, learning a lot I never knew, and seeing it all with Donovan'’s guidance from the perspective of 1977.’ — James Tobin, Sterling Professor of Econc Yale University Categorte