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The Last Brahmin: Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. and the Making of the Cold War
For three decades, Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. was at the center of American foreign policy, serving as adviser to five presidents, from Dwight Eisenhower to Gerald Ford, and ambassador to the United Nations, Vietnam, and West Germany. He hailed from a distinguished American family with a record of public service that began in the Washington administration. The experience of World War II—when Lodge became the first sitting senator since the 1860s to resign his seat for military service—dramatically transformed him from isolationist to internationalist, and the Cold War tested his faith in democracy and its ability to project its system of values abroad. Lodge was among the last of his kind: the well-heeled Eastern Establishment Republicans who put duty over partisanship and saw themselves as the hereditary captains of the American state. Using previously unexamined material, historian Luke A. Nichter recounts, for the first time, Lodge’s extraordinary and consequential life.
544 pages, Hardcover
First published September 22, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 23, 2021
Man. This is a good book, but in a terribly agonizing way because it could have been great. It's all there. All the makings of an epic are there. Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. dined with Teddy Roosevelt as a boy and with Winston Churchill as an adult. He was a Senator under FDR, a Lieutenant Colonel under Patton, and was appointed as a delegate to the UN by Truman. He ran a winning campaign for Ike's presidency and a lost a campaign for his own senate seat to a young John F. Kennedy, a defeat that set him on his course as an ambassador—a role he would hold under Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford.
The cast of characters is stellar. The scenes are among the most momentous and consequential of the 20th century. There's a natural arc to the storyline. The action builds to a crescendo, reaching its peak with the 1963 coup in South Vietnam. The whole thing is ripe for a juicy squeeze of sinister drama, full of heart-pounding exhilaration and stomach-churning disgust.
But it fell flat. It's far closer to reportage—a recounting of the facts, of which there are many, and many of which are shocking—rather than true storytelling. It lacks atmosphere. That's the best way I can describe what's missing. Atmosphere. We don't feel the sweltering heat of Saigon, shirts soaked through and sticky, due not only to the inescapable eyes of the sun but the exhausting moral wrestling matches taking place in the minds of the actors. Nor do we feel the chill when those toils cease as their hearts become hardened by political ambition.
Many books would be well served if they were shorter. I think this one would be better if it were longer. Slow the pace, take in each scene. Study the characters. Let them breathe. A little more analysis, a little more description, a little more context, and this book could be lifted into the realm of all-time biographies.
That's not hyperbole. I believe it. I really do. The reason is not just because of the subject and subject matter but because there are flashes of spectacular writing. The best of the whole book comes on the last page. Literally on the last printed page of the main text, Nichter summarizes his assessment of Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. the man. It's the analysis I had been longing for the whole time and it's written superbly. It's fantastic.
One more thing that would have benefited the book is subheading breaks within the chapters. The action jumps quickly from one scene to another, and at times it's unclear that we've moved to a different subject.
So I'm left a bit unsatisfied. It's good. It could have been great.
The cast of characters is stellar. The scenes are among the most momentous and consequential of the 20th century. There's a natural arc to the storyline. The action builds to a crescendo, reaching its peak with the 1963 coup in South Vietnam. The whole thing is ripe for a juicy squeeze of sinister drama, full of heart-pounding exhilaration and stomach-churning disgust.
But it fell flat. It's far closer to reportage—a recounting of the facts, of which there are many, and many of which are shocking—rather than true storytelling. It lacks atmosphere. That's the best way I can describe what's missing. Atmosphere. We don't feel the sweltering heat of Saigon, shirts soaked through and sticky, due not only to the inescapable eyes of the sun but the exhausting moral wrestling matches taking place in the minds of the actors. Nor do we feel the chill when those toils cease as their hearts become hardened by political ambition.
Many books would be well served if they were shorter. I think this one would be better if it were longer. Slow the pace, take in each scene. Study the characters. Let them breathe. A little more analysis, a little more description, a little more context, and this book could be lifted into the realm of all-time biographies.
That's not hyperbole. I believe it. I really do. The reason is not just because of the subject and subject matter but because there are flashes of spectacular writing. The best of the whole book comes on the last page. Literally on the last printed page of the main text, Nichter summarizes his assessment of Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. the man. It's the analysis I had been longing for the whole time and it's written superbly. It's fantastic.
One more thing that would have benefited the book is subheading breaks within the chapters. The action jumps quickly from one scene to another, and at times it's unclear that we've moved to a different subject.
So I'm left a bit unsatisfied. It's good. It could have been great.
September 27, 2020
Thoroughly researched, comprehensive and detailed biography of Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. Clearly and accessibly written, and given that political biographies can be a bit dull for the uninitiated, this one was entertaining and did a good job in bringing out the personality of the subject. I learnt a lot from the book, not just about Lodge himself but also about American politics and history in general. A book for academics, historians and specialists but also for the general reader.
September 1, 2020
The basic study of history is a study of events that have happened, and many people leave it at that. Some choose to expand on that and include a study of the events and why they happen, while others delve deeper to study not only the when and the why, but also the how, and the who behind historical events. It is a rare historical moment indeed where one man or woman shapes history profoundly merely based on their individual efforts, and many of the peoples who have shaped history have been not only a product of their time, but also so much more than that as their efforts change history. Most of these monumental players in historical events are well known and are also well studied. There are a few however who have made great impacts in history but have someone not been studied to the degree they are due.
When one begins to study the Cold War and begins to also study the decision makers of the Western aspects of the Cold War certain names rise to the top: Kennan, Nitze, Acheson, Dulles, and many others. One name that certainly should be on that list and now will be on that list is Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. As a reader begins to read about and study an aspect of history it is easy to come to conclusions and form ideas that shape how we view all aspects of history that cause us to drift away from the true neutrality of facts and wander into the cloudy regions known as opinion. This pitfall is known to historians as bias, and is the bane of a historian’s existence. If a historian is not careful this bias can cause one to draw close to supporting sources and historical figures and shy away from contradictory ones. This is, of course, not what historians are called to do. Historians are called to deliver the facts and only the facts, and let the reader draw their own conclusions. This is not an easy task, and it does not grow the historian’s circle of friends in some cases. What I truly appreciate about all of Luke Nichter’s works, The Last Brahmin, being a fine example, is that is exactly what he does. Nichter presents the facts as they are and allows the reader to come to their own conclusions. Nichter has done this more consistently and more effectively than any historian I have known. I first had the privilege of meeting the author at Texas A&M Central Texas fatefully enough in historiography class where this concept was truly driven home. I then had the opportunity to work with Dr. Nichter through TAMUCT as a research assistant for The Nixon Tapes where this idea was reinforced all the more, so when he asked that I compare the transcripts from President Kennedy’s meetings regarding the coup against Diem for accuracy I was honored to do so.
For those who haven’t transcribed audio tapes it is nearly impossible to explain the tediousness necessary to gain extreme accuracy in transcription work but I was again impressed with the accuracy of the transcripts of the conversations between the president and his advisors. After reviewing this monumental achievement I can see that Nichter’s reputation for unbiased presentation of facts is clearly still in practice. What’s more Nichter shows how Lodge’s family history and career develops and is shaped by, and shapes the Cold War. Whether the reader is merely curious about the Cold War, an armchair historian, or a historical researcher, this is a work that can not only inform but entertain the reader. This work will undoubtedly become the “go to” standard for the study of Henry Cabot Lodge Jr, and lays a strong foundation that will be tough to expand upon.
Michael W. Cotten
Assistant Professor of History
Temple College
When one begins to study the Cold War and begins to also study the decision makers of the Western aspects of the Cold War certain names rise to the top: Kennan, Nitze, Acheson, Dulles, and many others. One name that certainly should be on that list and now will be on that list is Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. As a reader begins to read about and study an aspect of history it is easy to come to conclusions and form ideas that shape how we view all aspects of history that cause us to drift away from the true neutrality of facts and wander into the cloudy regions known as opinion. This pitfall is known to historians as bias, and is the bane of a historian’s existence. If a historian is not careful this bias can cause one to draw close to supporting sources and historical figures and shy away from contradictory ones. This is, of course, not what historians are called to do. Historians are called to deliver the facts and only the facts, and let the reader draw their own conclusions. This is not an easy task, and it does not grow the historian’s circle of friends in some cases. What I truly appreciate about all of Luke Nichter’s works, The Last Brahmin, being a fine example, is that is exactly what he does. Nichter presents the facts as they are and allows the reader to come to their own conclusions. Nichter has done this more consistently and more effectively than any historian I have known. I first had the privilege of meeting the author at Texas A&M Central Texas fatefully enough in historiography class where this concept was truly driven home. I then had the opportunity to work with Dr. Nichter through TAMUCT as a research assistant for The Nixon Tapes where this idea was reinforced all the more, so when he asked that I compare the transcripts from President Kennedy’s meetings regarding the coup against Diem for accuracy I was honored to do so.
For those who haven’t transcribed audio tapes it is nearly impossible to explain the tediousness necessary to gain extreme accuracy in transcription work but I was again impressed with the accuracy of the transcripts of the conversations between the president and his advisors. After reviewing this monumental achievement I can see that Nichter’s reputation for unbiased presentation of facts is clearly still in practice. What’s more Nichter shows how Lodge’s family history and career develops and is shaped by, and shapes the Cold War. Whether the reader is merely curious about the Cold War, an armchair historian, or a historical researcher, this is a work that can not only inform but entertain the reader. This work will undoubtedly become the “go to” standard for the study of Henry Cabot Lodge Jr, and lays a strong foundation that will be tough to expand upon.
Michael W. Cotten
Assistant Professor of History
Temple College
January 27, 2021
This is an extremely well-written and researched history of a giant among men. It’s impossible to fully understand the Vietnam War without understanding the foundational roles played by JFK and Lodge. This book answers what had been an issue in dispute— did JFK have advance knowledge of and greenlight the assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem?
August 27, 2021
I've followed politics all my life and 1960 was the first presidential election of which I have strong memories. Whatever opinions I had about Nixon as the presidential candidate, I was very impressed with Henry Cabot Lodge as the vice presidential candidate. He came from an old Brahmin family in Massachusetts, was very well educated, very intelligent, and carried a life-long desire to be useful in public life. He served as U.S. senator, resigned his seat to fight in the war, and proved to many in the military to be a brilliant leader and negotiator. His facility with foreign languages also proved to be vital as he dealt with French and German leaders. His admiration of Eisenhower prompted him, almost single-handedly, to create a draft for Ike, resulting in his overwhelming victory in 1952. Lodge defined what it took and what it meant to be our ambassador to the United Nations. By 1960, Nixon felt Lodge would be a valuable asset to his campaign. Unfortunately for them both, Kennedy/Johnson defeated them. Despite being a Republican, Lodge continued to serve both Kennedy and Johnson, most importantly as our ambassador to Vietnam. There was a brief boomlet for Lodge to run for president in 1964, in an effort to counter the conservative Goldwater. However, it was not to be, and his party went down to one of the greatest political defeats in history. His was a life of continual service to his country regardless of political affiliation. His participation always made a positive difference to his country, and that is a wonderful legacy for anyone.
July 23, 2020
During the 20th century, from Teddy Roosevelt to Bush 41, every president made an impact on foreign affairs and global diplomacy during periods of war, peace and crises; in addition to that, there were 10 times as many diplomats and politicians who spent their entire adult lives influencing, changing and making policy. None were more involved than Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., a patrician from a prominent Boston family whose ancestors trace back to the very beginnings of American colonists, builders, businessmen, politicians and diplomats. Cabot Lodge was foremost of them, more than any contemporary that you could name. And while he is not widely known among these contemporaries, his experience, contributions and involvement span from the Great War, Great Depression, Second World War, the Cold War and the Vietnam War.
World renowned and respected in his time as a journalist, congressman, senator, WW2 war veteran, U.N. Ambassador, U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam (twice) and ambassador-at-large in many venues, his life and career is a hallmark of compassionate, moderate conservatism. Few of his more famous contemporaries could sport a resume like his. This biography is a testament to the American ideals of public service. Luke Nichter has gone to excruciating lengths in research and detail to write an exemplary biography of a man little known or understood. For any student of 20th century history, this book is a must read.
The entire book is plethora of known and new information about this extraordinary American patriot and his service spanning 8 decades, the most intriguing chapters deal with Vietnam; more importantly is that newly found, declassified and transcribed material from the Kennedy White House shows that U.S. involvement in Vietnam from the very beginning became fixated & fixed after the cartoonish, deadly coup that toppled SVN president Ngo Dinh Diem on November 2, 1963. It has long been believed that President John F. Kennedy was fully involved and informed of the coup plotting from early that year. However, apologists and protectors of his legacy have steadfastly repudiated it. The information within this book shows that without a doubt, JFK knew well in advance about the coup plotting, actively stayed informed and tacitly approved of it. It is a stunning blow to his pristine thousand days; this is not revisionist history, it reads like ‘real time’ history correcting a record mired in the fog of war.
Cabot Lodge and others took a lot of detrimental and unnecessary blame for the Diem coup and what transpired in Vietnam over the next decade once Lyndon Johnson became president but the information revealed herein shows that blame could squarely be placed in the Oval Office. The buck stopped there.
That being said, this entire biography is a microcosm of the American realpolitik in its finest form. No politician or diplomat is perfect… but the last Brahmin was certainly closer than most.
World renowned and respected in his time as a journalist, congressman, senator, WW2 war veteran, U.N. Ambassador, U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam (twice) and ambassador-at-large in many venues, his life and career is a hallmark of compassionate, moderate conservatism. Few of his more famous contemporaries could sport a resume like his. This biography is a testament to the American ideals of public service. Luke Nichter has gone to excruciating lengths in research and detail to write an exemplary biography of a man little known or understood. For any student of 20th century history, this book is a must read.
The entire book is plethora of known and new information about this extraordinary American patriot and his service spanning 8 decades, the most intriguing chapters deal with Vietnam; more importantly is that newly found, declassified and transcribed material from the Kennedy White House shows that U.S. involvement in Vietnam from the very beginning became fixated & fixed after the cartoonish, deadly coup that toppled SVN president Ngo Dinh Diem on November 2, 1963. It has long been believed that President John F. Kennedy was fully involved and informed of the coup plotting from early that year. However, apologists and protectors of his legacy have steadfastly repudiated it. The information within this book shows that without a doubt, JFK knew well in advance about the coup plotting, actively stayed informed and tacitly approved of it. It is a stunning blow to his pristine thousand days; this is not revisionist history, it reads like ‘real time’ history correcting a record mired in the fog of war.
Cabot Lodge and others took a lot of detrimental and unnecessary blame for the Diem coup and what transpired in Vietnam over the next decade once Lyndon Johnson became president but the information revealed herein shows that blame could squarely be placed in the Oval Office. The buck stopped there.
That being said, this entire biography is a microcosm of the American realpolitik in its finest form. No politician or diplomat is perfect… but the last Brahmin was certainly closer than most.
March 10, 2021
Solid coverage of a Senator I didn't know much about that also helped refresh my memory of midcentury U.S. history. It felt a bit reverent, so I'm not sure it really tried to present a complete picture, but I appreciated what I did learn.
June 13, 2025
Nichter is a first rate historian and so manages to cover a large swathe of postwar U.S. history centered around the U.S. political side of Vietnam war.
Of course HCL was much more than that and besides being elected Senator twice, he was key to Eisenthower's election, he was a very successful and long serving U.S represetative to the U.N., U.S. embassador to Vietnam under Kennedy, the man who defeated him for the Senate and defeated Nixon, for who HCL was the V.P. running mate.
Probably the greatest revelations for this book related to Diem overthrow and excecution earler in November of the Kennedy assasination. Details include information released as late as 2016 and Nichter is a co author on the Nixon tapes and quotes some of the LBJ tapes as well. 1/3 of this book is notes.
What I got from this book ... well I knew little about Lodge but he was a key figure in both diplomacy and U.S. politics. A comparison with Kissinger (later) and Harriman (earlier) is worthwhile but in many ways he far exceeded both for example winning several primaries in the 1968 Presidential election without being officially running.
I also got a much better understanding of the divide between moderate and conservative republicans and the postwar evolution of the party.
One of the key questions that was in my head about the Vietnam war was the idea that had Kennedy lived he could have ended U.S. involvment. While some threats were made to Diem and to his generals (who carried out the coup with U.S. backing and under U.S. threats of loss of support) the key statement by Kennedy that losing Vietnam would seriously hurt his re election chances in 1964 (1960 was a very close race against Nixon.) And a similar statement later by Johnson puts that hypothesis to rest.
A lot of key players in U.S. affairs pop in and out of the story from David Halberstam (NYT reporter later historian) to Richard Holbrook, John Negroponte and Philip Habbib - later key U.S. diplomats and Landsdale of CIA fame plus the usual key players around Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon But the real key people are who have early ties and links are Eisenhower, Nixon and a young Kissinger who enters in his academic role an advisor and exits as someone holding the Vietnam negociations tightly in his fist and earns the Nobel peace prize for them.
Of course HCL was much more than that and besides being elected Senator twice, he was key to Eisenthower's election, he was a very successful and long serving U.S represetative to the U.N., U.S. embassador to Vietnam under Kennedy, the man who defeated him for the Senate and defeated Nixon, for who HCL was the V.P. running mate.
Probably the greatest revelations for this book related to Diem overthrow and excecution earler in November of the Kennedy assasination. Details include information released as late as 2016 and Nichter is a co author on the Nixon tapes and quotes some of the LBJ tapes as well. 1/3 of this book is notes.
What I got from this book ... well I knew little about Lodge but he was a key figure in both diplomacy and U.S. politics. A comparison with Kissinger (later) and Harriman (earlier) is worthwhile but in many ways he far exceeded both for example winning several primaries in the 1968 Presidential election without being officially running.
I also got a much better understanding of the divide between moderate and conservative republicans and the postwar evolution of the party.
One of the key questions that was in my head about the Vietnam war was the idea that had Kennedy lived he could have ended U.S. involvment. While some threats were made to Diem and to his generals (who carried out the coup with U.S. backing and under U.S. threats of loss of support) the key statement by Kennedy that losing Vietnam would seriously hurt his re election chances in 1964 (1960 was a very close race against Nixon.) And a similar statement later by Johnson puts that hypothesis to rest.
A lot of key players in U.S. affairs pop in and out of the story from David Halberstam (NYT reporter later historian) to Richard Holbrook, John Negroponte and Philip Habbib - later key U.S. diplomats and Landsdale of CIA fame plus the usual key players around Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon But the real key people are who have early ties and links are Eisenhower, Nixon and a young Kissinger who enters in his academic role an advisor and exits as someone holding the Vietnam negociations tightly in his fist and earns the Nobel peace prize for them.
April 9, 2024
I could not put this biography down. I initially checked out a book that Robert Kennedy Jr proposed for the best book of his uncle; in the beginning of that book, Lodge was mentioned (and not in great light)....so I decided to read about Lodge. Boy......what a good idea!! Lodge was a man who cared for his country USA, people, and all the people around the world. He never said 'no' to an assignment, and I do not think he was lazy for 1 day! He knew Eisenhower and was probably the biggest reason that Eisenhower became president!! He knew FDR, Taft, Truman, JF Kennedy, etc. During WWII, Lodge left his senate seat to fight in the war. I really got to know this guy, even that he married one of the original Sears girls. He tried very hard to 'not' have USA become an 'isolated' nation; however, he (as ambassador to Vietnam) and all of Washington wanted to NOT start the war that started. I saw Deer Hunter movie more than a few times, and I will never forget (never stop thanking) what those soldiers went thru...not to mention Vietnam leaders' who tried to come to terms with North Vietnam, and were assassinated.
August 6, 2023
This book follows a conventional biography format. This book brings to light that Kennedy was more involved in the coup and assassination of Vietnam's President Ngo Dinh Diem. There was no direct order to remove him from power, but more of a "he should probably get going" type of sentiment. Kennedy was focused on domestic politics and trying to make foreign policy decisions through the lens of the electorate rather than through one focused on international stability.
January 10, 2022
Excellent biography of one of the 20th century's greatest American public servants. One can only imagine how the USA would be different had Henry Cabot Lodge Jr been President in the 1960s or 70s.
March 24, 2023
Started strong and then began to suffer some subject drift. Still a good bookto learn about a very influential man who lead a very interesting life.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews