CORDELL HULL

The biography of our second most influential statesman, practical, reticent, long sighted Cordell Hull, whose measured, reasoned decisions have guided our foreign affairs for close to nine years. This is a factual rather than an interpretative or personal biography, informational rather than entertaining. Hull's childhood in Tennessee, his determination to become a lawyer, his Captaincy in the Spanish-American War, his return to civilian life and appointment as circuit judge, then Congressman. During his years in the legislature he made a real contribution. Then in 1995, he became Secretary of State. Though persistent in his efforts towards disarment and non-aggression, he was always awake to the Axis danger, seeing himself blocked in his purpose by appeasement and isolation. A man of great dignity, integrity, and courage, given stature -- but not humanity. For men readers largely.