This revisionist interpretation of American diplomacy since World War I begins by examining the heritage of Woodrow Wilson, whose idealistic search for a League of Nations turned instead into a covenant with power. Gardner then presents stimulating new discussions of FDR's use of powerpolitics, the Cold War years, and the Vietnam War, ending with an assessment of power politics under the Nixon, Carter, and Reagan administrations. Original and incisive, this book offers a provocative view of more than fifty years of American power and illusions.