Preface : why this memoir? - - The Cold War begins : the formative years, 1945-50 - - The view from a think tank : Soviet affairs expert at Rand - - The thaw : observing the Soviet Union after Stalin - - CIA and intelligence analysis and estimates - - "Foreign affairs adviser" at the Pentagon - - Intelligence excursions in the Soviet Union - - The espionage game - - Department of State : the Kennedy years (I) - - Department of State : the Kennedy years (II) - - The Cuban Missile Crisis : turning point of the Cold War - - Department of State : the Johnson years - - The diplomacy of East-West relations - - Negotiating on strategic arms : SALT and the ABM Treaty - - Developing détente in U.S.-Soviet relations - - Inspecting the American conduct of foreign relations - - Ambassador to Bulgaria - - The decline and collapse of the détente of the 1970s - - Witness to the Cold War endgame : 1980-90 - - Reflections on the Cold War - - Epilogue : a personal reminiscence.