Books June 2018
Middleman
A review of Arthur Vandenberg: The Man in the Middle of the American Century by Hendrik Meijer.
Probably the name Grand Rapids carries little resonance for readers outside the state of Michigan. Within Michigan, the city is well known for its predominantly Dutch population. As a local adage has it, “If you’re not Dutch, you’re not much.” Both Arthur Vandenberg and his biographer, Hendrik “Hank” Meijer, the author of the superb new Arthur Vandenberg: The Man in the Middle of the American Century, are products of that Michigan community. Meijer, besides being a biographer, is the ceo of Meijer Stores, a popular retail chain. The Grand Rapids Dutch are known for their industriousness, civic-mindedness, common sense, and thriftiness; until 1986 Meijer’s stores were called Meijer’s Thrifty Acres. Arthur Vandenberg’s down-to-earth Dutch hard-headedness helped him influence American foreign policy both in...
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