Best book on foreign affairs
AWARD YEAR: 1981
AWARD NAME: The Cornelius Ryan Award
AWARD RECIPIENT: Pierre Salinger
AWARD RECIPIENT AFFILIATION: Doubleday
AWARD HONORED WORK: “America Held Hostage”
In· this book, subtitled “The Secret Negotiations,” Salinger unfolds the full story of the hostages in Iran, from the Shah’s leaving Teheran, to the freed Americans. Offering fresh information on the resolution of the crisis from his own research, interviews, and even participation, he describes the roles of before- and behind-the scenes go-betweens, of heads of state with contrasting private and public positions, and of negotiations ranging from Washington, to Panama, Algiers, Teheran, Bonn and London.
Judges: Anita Diamant-Berke, Carol Smith, Hallie Burnett, Alex Liepa, Ken Giniger.