"Bruno Kreisky (1911-1990) is undoubtedly the most prominent and influential politician to emerge in postwar Austria. For some thirty years, he helped to shape his country's politics and raise its status in the world, first as secretary of state, then as leader of the opposition Social Democratic Party and as foreign minister, and finally as chancellor from 1970 to 1983.

During his long tenure of public office, Austria achieved unprecedented levels of prosperity; he promoted electoral and educational reform and weathered the occasional scandal. His analytical mind and intelligence were much appreciated by statesmen in the East and West as well as in the academy, as were his deeply felt humanism, integrity, untiring advocacy of the role of honest broker in international peace, human rights, and development initiatives. His stature enabled him to play an active part in the promotion of the Arab-Israeli dialogue and pave the way for President Jimmy Carter's mediation of the Israeli-Egypt peace accord through his close relationship with Sadat.

As a result of such activity, Kreisky was respected and praised by every U.S. administration from Kennedy to Reagan, and was on excellent terms with Khrushchev and Brezhnev, despite his support for the containment of Soviet communism."--BOOK JACKET.