William Boudreau

A Teetering Balance: An American Diplomat's Career And Family William Boudreau

'A Teetering Balance' provides an inside view of an American diplomat atwork. The author details his experiences representing the U. S. Government inthe Congo, Madagascar and the Comoros. Anecdotes are also provided on other aspects of his25year career as a Foreign Service Officer. Mr. Boudreau depicts the politicalclimate in Africa, pitting the East versus the West during the heightof the Cold War, (1960s-1980s). Among the included episodes are: whitemercenary rebellion, missionaries at risk, Angolan liberation movements,devastating natural disasters, initiating contact with a relatively unknowncountry, denying Soviet military access to bases and effecting attitude changeswithin a Marxist Government. The book is a real life treatment of how a diplomatdeals with issues and problems, involving all levels of government, includingpresidents and other leaders. As the title suggests, the author was caught in a dilemma with sometimecontradictory forces tugging at him. Advancing one's career in the ForeignService can be incompatible with the best interests of family. Mr. Boudreauexplains how he managed to take care of his family while still providing qualityservice to the U. S. Government.