Andrew Meier Bücher

Since their arrival in the United States from Germany in 1866, the Morgenthaus have played a pivotal role in American history, rising from loss to wealth and reaching the highest echelons of power. With exclusive access to family archives, journalist Andrew Meier chronicles their remarkable journey, detailing how they amassed wealth, advised presidents, shaped the New Deal, and condemned atrocities like the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust. The story begins with Lazarus, who came to New York to rebuild his fortune but died destitute. The family's resurgence began with Henry, a real estate mogul who encouraged Woodrow Wilson to run for president. The Morgenthaus would influence significant presidencies, with Henry's son, Henry Jr., serving as FDR's longest-serving aide and Treasury Secretary. Robert Morgenthau, a WWII hero, became New York City's longest-serving district attorney, tackling major legal cases, including the Mafia and the Central Park Five. As public servants and confidantes, the Morgenthaus propelled candidates into power while often witnessing the moral costs of political decisions. Their saga, long obscured, is both a family history and an American epic, reflecting the complexities and improbabilities of the nation itself.

Russia is a world in limbo. The body politic is diseased, the state in collapse. Yet for all the signs of imminent doom, Russians do not fear the future. They fear the past. This text examines a state in collapse and explains how millions of Russians have been displaced by the death of an ideology.

The account delves into the brutal history of the Chechen wars, starting from Boris Yeltsin's military actions in 1994 aimed at suppressing independence movements. Andrew Meier recounts his harrowing experiences while reporting on the aftermath of a civilian massacre, highlighting the tragic loss of life, including pregnant women and the elderly. His journey through war-torn Chechnya exposes the complexities of the conflict, featuring encounters with various factions and the profound grief of Russian mothers. The narrative seeks to understand the motivations behind such atrocities.