When Present Danger was written in 1979, many were terrified that Moscow might actually triumph in the Cold War. The United States and the rest of NATO observed Communist takeovers in eleven countries in that decade alone. It was in this context that Conquest wrote his book, directing it toward the people of America and Britain who were seemingly growing wary of the struggle.

His first task was to prove that Soviet motivations were not benign at that time. He exposes their long-term goal of spreading communism to the ends of the Earth, critiques the prevailing wisdom in the West that détente will work, and urges a build-up of military capability to counter the Soviets. “Given the choice,” he advises, “weapons are a sounder defense than paper.” He also warns that the West should not give in to Moscow’s demands and that human rights should be a cornerstone of the West’s policies: “They should gain no benefits, economic, technical or political from us except to the extent that they are willing to pay for them in the intangible coin of liberty and tolerance, the true dowry of peace.” One might easily apply such language to the rulers of North Korea and Iran today.

Conquest also urges his audience not to treat treaties as “an all-purpose panacea” and describes “a tendency not only among diplomats to think that negotiation in itself is always a good thing.” In fact, he points out, the Soviets had continually violated the terms of the Helsinki Agreement, which promised the recognition of “the universal significance of human rights and fundamental freedoms.” He also praises the late former ambassador to the U.N., Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who “refused to tolerate the conventional anti-American out- bursts of Third World representatives, and forthrightly maintained American principles.” He chides Moynihan for sometimes being too tough, but also notes that the ambassador “answered the attacks of the Communist bloc, which had so often been allowed to go by default.” In recent months, sup- porters of John Bolton’s nomination to become the next ambassador to the U.N. have cited Moynihan as the model U.S. representative. It would do America well if we had someone at the U.N. willing to stand-up to the attacks from those who oppose America .

The points that Conquest raises are germane to current politics and the prevailing academic mindset here at Stanford. Many students and professors would benefit by reading this book. Too many fail to recognize that talking tough with bad guys (who do exist) is often what needs to be done. Too many forget that the threat of the Soviet Union was real, just as the threat of terrorism is real. Too many are growing weary of the Global War on Terrorism.

As America confronts the dangerous world of the 21st century, Conquest’s wisdom should give us both guidance and hope for the future.