Includes bibliographical references (p. 409-436) and index.

A very odd couple -- The black hole: Vietnam -- The opening to China -- A feather-brained crime -- The year of Europe -- Storm clouds over the Middle East -- Coming to grips with the Polar Bear -- A long hot summer -- To Secretary of State -- A dagger pointing at the heart of Antarctica -- The war of atonement -- The crisis: DEFCON 3 -- To Sadat -- On to China -- To Geneva and Shuttle -- The awful grace of God -- Aftermath.

1973 should have been Kissinger's year of triumph--a time to bask in his hard-won achievements and build on his successes. Kissinger's strategy of opening the door to China and dâetente with the Soviet Union had been judged an overwhelming success. After furthering his policy of realpolitik through backchannel diplomacy during Nixon's first term, Kissinger was finally awarded the plum position of Secretary of State. But then major events shattered whatever peace and calm America had attained: defeat in Vietnam; then Watergate, culminating in Nixon's resignation; war in the Middle East; and finally an economic collapse caused by the Arab oil embargo. Rather than progressing on all fronts, as he had expected, Kissinger would confront some of the most critical policy challenges of his career. Based on full access to the subject and his papers, this is an intimate portrait of a man, a country, and a presidency at a critical point.--From publisher description.