The Georgetown Set: Friends and Rivals in Cold War Washington

The Georgetown Set chronicles the social and political circles of Washington D.C.'s elite during the Cold War era, focusing on influential figures who lived in the Georgetown neighborhood. Through dinner parties, salons, and informal gatherings, this group of journalists, spies, diplomats and government officials shaped U.S. foreign policy from the 1940s through the 1960s. The book follows key players including Joe Alsop, Phil Graham, Frank Wisner, and their spouses as they navigate international crises and domestic upheavals. Their interconnected personal relationships and professional pursuits created a powerful nexus between the media, intelligence community, and political establishment. The narrative traces how this informal network responded to major events like McCarthyism, the Vietnam War, and changes in American journalism. Their story encompasses founding publications like The New Republic, establishing the CIA, and advising multiple presidents. This account of Georgetown's Cold War power brokers reveals broader themes about the role of social networks in governance and the complex relationship between the press and state power in American democracy.

Readers appreciate the detailed research and insider accounts of Washington's post-WWII power brokers, journalists, and spies who gathered for social events in Georgetown. Many note the book provides context for understanding Cold War decision-making and policy formation through personal relationships. Several reviewers point out the breadth of characters makes the narrative hard to follow. A common complaint is that the book loses focus by trying to cover too many people and events. Some readers found the writing dry and academic. Specific praise focuses on the portrayal of key figures like Joe Alsop and the descriptions of Georgetown's dinner party culture. Critics note the book could have provided more analysis of how these social connections actually influenced policy decisions. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (176 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (86 ratings) "Meticulously researched but often reads like a textbook" - Amazon reviewer "Fascinating slice of DC social history but gets bogged down in details" - Goodreads reviewer

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🏛️ The Georgetown neighborhood featured in the book served as an informal salon where influential journalists, CIA officials, and politicians would regularly gather for dinner parties that often shaped U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War. 🗞️ Joseph Alsop, one of the book's central figures, wrote his nationally syndicated column for over 40 years and was known to conduct interviews with sources while soaking in his bathtub. 🔍 Author Gregg Herken spent over 15 years researching the book, conducting more than 100 interviews and accessing previously classified CIA documents. 🏠 The Sunday night suppers at journalist Phil and Kay Graham's house became so crucial to Washington's power structure that they were nicknamed "the Sunday Night Drunk." 🕵️ Frank Wisner, a key figure in the Georgetown Set, established Operation Mockingbird—a CIA program that recruited American journalists to gather intelligence and spread propaganda during the Cold War.