"The book details Caspar Weinberger's role in orchestrating the largest peacetime military buildup in U.S. history and the consequential military engagements of the Cold War's last decade. President Ronald Reagan tapped Weinberger, a renowned budget cutter, as his first term Secretary of Defense to lead a cost-effective military expansion by trimming fat and increasing efficiency. Instead, under Weinberger, the military services enjoyed record budgets, the U.S. defense industry posted record profits, and service members saw increased pay and expanded training. Efficiency and fiscal moderation took a back seat. In foreign policy, Weinberger opposed arms control agreements with Moscow, something Reagan came to favor during his second term. The defense secretary wanted instead to complete the historic military buildup before negotiating arms control, a stance that brought him into conflict with Secretaries of State Alexander Haig and George Shultz, as did his Middle East policy of advocating closer relations with friendly Arab nations. Weinberger actively supported the British during the Falklands/Malvinas War, but he unsuccessfully opposed American intervention in the Lebanon crisis, which true to his fears ended in tragedy. In other foreign policy issues such as confronting communism in Central America, using China against the Soviet Union, and keeping NATO allies happy, Weinberger was largely in line with those of the president and his administration. Weinberger's success in managing and selling the military buildup remains his lasting legacy"-- Provided by publisher.

Redacted. In scope of the U.S. Government Publishing Office Cataloging and Indexing Program (C&I) and Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP).

Caspar Weinberger's journey to the Pentagon --The Pentagon team and relationships within the Reagan Administration -- The buildup budgets : Fiscal Years 1981, 1982, and 1983 -- Confronting the Soviets : estimates of military power, crisis in Poland, and reassessments of technology transfer and trade embargos -- Weinberger and Soviet-American nuclear arms reduction negotiations -- Defense acquisition reform and Pentagon reorganization -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization -- The Middle East : Israel, Egypt, and Jordan -- Lebanon : into the cauldron -- The Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia -- The Falklands/Malvinas War and Weinberger as "assistant quartermaster" -- Defending the defense budget : Fiscal Years 1984-1986 -- National security and strategic forces modernization -- Grenada : Operation Urgent Fury -- Central America, Cuba, and South America -- Libya, worldwide terrorism, and Africa -- The all-volunteer force -- East Asia and Southeast Asia -- Weinberger's legacy.