I’m not crazy about the format, but this episode of the Leonard Lopate Show@, on April 29, 2004, with Eric Alterman as guest, I found fascinating.
Alterman’s subject was the effects (in modern history) when presidents lie, and while there were obvious references to the events of the time, what I found most interesting was the discussion regarding Roosevelt and the genesis of the Cold War. Specifically, Alterman claims that Roosevelt promised Stalin various items regarding how Europe and Asia would be carved up after the war, but kept these agreements more or less secret from most of his staff, including most importantly Truman and Congress. And so, when at the end of the war Stalin moved in to pick up what Roosevelt agreed was his, he found the US and Truman reneging on the deal, and the rest is history.
This is interesting stuff, and matches in broad outline what I’ve heard Gore Vidal say on the same subject. As I said, the radio interview format is not ideal for exploring ideas, but, hopefully, one day I’ll come across a better review of this history.