Introduction: the case for the honest broker role -- The foundation of honest brokerage : Truman's executive secretaries, Eisenhower's special assistants -- The decline of honest brokerage : Bundy as NSC advisor -- The costs of absent brokerage : Kissinger as NSC advisor -- The benefits of balanced brokerage : Scowcroft as NSC advisor -- Weak brokerage, insurgency, and recovery : the Reagan NSC advisors -- The costs of failed brokerage : Rice as NSC advisor -- Conclusions -- Appendix A: Assistants to the president for national security affairs (NSC advisors) -- Since 1953 -- Appendix B: The others: Rostow, Brzezinski, Lake, Berger, and Hadley -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.