Nicholas Thompson: All Publications, Events and Press

Inheriting the World

Stephanie Gunter — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:45:00 -0500

A New America Event
12/02/2009 - 12:15pm

For nearly half a century, the Cold War dominated U.S. foreign policy. Encompassing some of America's greatest successes and failures, its legacy has shaped U.S. debates over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and relations with Russia, China and Iran. What are the right and wrong lessons to take from America's long "twilight struggle"? And how has the reality of the Cold War been distorted in public memory in the years since?

Forecast: Self-Serving

Erin Drankoski — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:01:00 -0500

Bruce Bueno de Mesquita wants you to buy his book. He wants royalties and he wants fame. He wants the book to promote his consulting business. The text may well be full of self-promotional tall tales and calumny -- unless the author calculated that the costs of dishonesty (potential intellectual disrepute) outweighed the benefits (more fame, royalties and consulting). When he walks into bookstores, he probably moves his book from the back shelves to the front. If he knew I was writing this review, he'd think about crafty ways to manipulate me.

The Hawk and the Dove | Washington Times

Erin Drankoski — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:47:00 -0400

A review of Nick Thompson’s book from the Washington Times ... Original Article

The Hawk and the Dove | American Spectator

Cecille Isidro — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:16:00 -0400

Nicholas Thompson is an editor at Wired magazine and a fellow at the New America Foundation; he is also Nitze's grandson. The familial ties do not interfere, though, ...

Soviet Doomsday Machine | Wired News

Cecille Isidro — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:48:00 -0400

This week's Storyboard Podcast takes a look at two stories in the October issue of Wired: “The Dead Hand” by Nick Thompson and “The ...

Throwing Light on Cold War | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Erin Drankoski — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:30:00 -0400

Nicholas Thompson, a reporter and Nitze's grandson, argues that while Kennan set the course of the Cold War, Nitze tried to win it. His dual biography of the two reveals a great deal about the early days of that superpower conflict and its aftermath. ... Original Article

Nuclear Pushback | The Washington Post

Erin Drankoski — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:27:00 -0400

Kennan's words are cited in Nicholas Thompson's brilliant new book, "The Hawk and the Dove," a joint biography of Kennan and his friend and policy rival Paul Nitze. The book is also a penetrating, amazingly accessible study of the origins and conduct of the Cold War. ... Original Article

The Hawk and The Dove | Morning Joe (MSNBC)

Erin Drankoski — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:43:00 -0400

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News,

The Hawk And The Dove | National Review Online

Erin Drankoski — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:20:00 -0400

Inside the Apocalyptic Soviet Doomsday Machine

Erin Drankoski — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:15:00 -0400

Valery Yarynich glances nervously over his shoulder. Clad in a brown leather jacket, the 72-year-old former Soviet colonel is hunkered in the back of the dimly lit Iron Gate restaurant in Washington, DC. It's March 2009-the Berlin Wall came down two decades ago-but the lean and fit Yarynich is as jumpy as an informant dodging the KGB. He begins to whisper, quietly but firmly.

"The Perimeter system is very, very nice," he says. "We remove unique responsibility from high politicians and the military." He looks around again.

The Hawk and the Dove

Erin Drankoski — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:17:00 -0400

Only two Americans held positions of great influence throughout the Cold War; ironically, they were the chief advocates for the opposing strategies for winning--and surviving--that harrowing conflict. Both men came to power during World War II, reached their professional peaks during the Cold War's most frightening moments, and fought epic political battles that spanned decades. Yet despite their very different views, Paul Nitze and George Kennan dined together, attended the weddings of each other's children, and remained good friends all… more

The Cold War's Friendliest Quarrel

Stephanie Gunter — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:45:00 -0400

A New America Event
09/15/2009 - 12:15pm

On September 15, Nicholas Thompson discussed his new book The Hawk and the Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan, and the History of the Cold War. Covering the remarkable rivalry and friendship bonding two of the nation's foremost foreign policy thinkers, Paul Nitze and George Kennan, the event was moderated by Andrés Martinez, Director of Bernard L. Schwartz Fellows Program.

The Hawk And The Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan, And The History Of The Cold War | Washington Post

Erin Drankoski — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:56:00 -0400

In "The Hawk and the Dove," Nicholas Thompson, an editor at Wired magazine, skillfully contrasts Nitze and Kennan. Thompson, who is Nitze's grandson, brings a judicial impartiality to the fierce disputes that raged between the two men. Thompson has enjoyed full access to his grandfather's archival documents, but perhaps his most impressive accomplishment is to have mined Kennan's extensive diaries for new insights. In this important and astute new study, Nitze emerges as a

The Hawk And The Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan, And The History Of The Cold War | New York Times

Erin Drankoski — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:49:00 -0400

Nicholas Thompson says he was often taken aback by what he learned about his grandfather.

After all, Mr. Thompson is Nitze's grandson, and he had access to all of his grandfather's personal papers and letters, as well as to his family, his closest friends, even to his opponents, the old Soviet warriors who sat opposite him at the negotiating table.

The Hawk and the Dove | The Washington Monthly

Erin Drankoski — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 07:57:00 -0400

History can also be biography, as this excellent book by Nicholas Thompson, an editor at Wired magazine, demonstrates. ... Original Article

Can Washington Power Up American Inventiveness?

Stephanie Gunter — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:44:00 -0400

A New America Event
07/20/2009 - 12:15pm

A New America Foundation/Washington Monthly event

CNBC Probes Ailing Porn Biz | Philadelphia Inquirer

Cecille Isidro — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:07:00 -0400

In fact, according to Wired magazine's Nick Thompson, porn's now facing the same challenges the music industry is. "They've responded slightly differently, ...

Twitter Revolution in Iran | CNN

Cecille Isidro — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 11:54:00 -0400

Nicholas Thompson from Wired magazine explains Twitter's role in Iran during the post-election unrest, even as some means of communication are blocked by the government. Link to video

And Data for All

Cecille Isidro — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:35:00 -0400

The Obama administration's most radical idea may also be its geekiest: Make nearly every hidden government spreadsheet and buried statistic available online, all in one place. For anyone to see. Are you searching for a Food and Drug Administration report that used to be obtainable only through the Freedom of Information Act? Just a mouseclick away. Need National Institutes of Health studies and school testing scores? Click. Census data, nonclassified Defense Department specs, obscure Securities and Exchange Commission files, prison statistics? Click click. Click. Click.

The Need for Speed

Cecille Isidro — Fri, 01 May 2009 11:41:00 -0400