At the Hinge of History

Harsch, now in his 80s, enjoyed a distinguished career of more than 60 years as a reporter/columnist for the Christian Science Monitor and as a network correspondent. Stationed in Berlin in 1940, he was the first American journalist to cover both sides of WW II. He earned a reputation for prophetic warnings of such watershed events as the German attack on Russia and the Cold War break between China and the Soviet Union. Along with re-creating his journalistic adventures, Harsch's entertaining, self-effacing memoir offers telling glimpses of President Franklin Roosevelt, General Douglas MacArthur and other prominent figures of his time. His thoughtful comments include a convicing argument that President Truman and Secretary of State Dean Acheson share the blame with MacArthur for the disastrous 1950 invasion of North Korea which brought China into the war. Other events that he recalls: the pre-WW II plan to resettle European Jews in Angola, and the near break-up of the NATO alliance during the 1956 Suez crisis. Photos. (Oct.)