Makes available to students the complete text of "NSC 68" - the crucial government memorandum that set American foreign policy for the Cold War. The document is accompanied by 22 commentaries - many of which were written specifically for this book by former US Government officials and academicians, including five foreign scholars - that critically evaluate the document from a wide spectrum of viewpoints. A general introduction by Ernest May places "NSC 68" in its historical context. May also provides an essay-length introduction to the commentaries, biographical information on their authors and questions to consider when reading the selections. In addition, the volume contains a chronology of the events of the Cold War.