The Faint Heart of Walter Lippmann

On some subjects Walter Lippmann’s views have been so changeable and contradictory that a witty Washington hostess gave him the private nickname, “Operation Cross-eyed.” But on one subject he has displayed a consistency worthy of a better cause. Whenever the United States has been faced with a demonstration of Communist aggression his attitude has been that of an appeaser and a defeatist. These terms call for definition.

An appeaser is one who seeks peace by making unilateral concessions, at his own expense or at the expense of an ally, in the face of force or threat of force. A defeatist is one who systematically exaggerates the political, military, diplomatic strength of the enemy and disparages that of his own side.

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William Henry Chamberlin

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On some subjects Walter Lippmann’s views have been so changeable and contradictory that a witty Washington hostess gave him the private nickname, “Operation Cross-eyed.” But on one subject he has displayed a consistency worthy of a better cause. Whenever the United States has been faced with a demonstration of Communist aggression his attitude has been that of an appeaser and a defeatist. These terms call for definition.

An appeaser is one who seeks peace by making unilateral concessions, at his own expense or at the expense of an ally, in the face of force or threat of force. A defeatist is one who systematically exaggerates the political, military, diplomatic strength of the enemy and disparages that of his own side.