The works of William Appleman Williams and George F. Kennan have contributed to the understanding of American diplomatic history during the period 1900-1950. Kennan's book, American Diplomacy, offers a trenchant critique focusing on American "mistakes," examining in particular the directionlessness of American foreign policy and the end result of American strength and insecurity at the onset of the Cold War. Williams, in his book The Tragedy of American Diplomacy, pursues a different but still critical perspective, stating that American policy was largely motivated by the “Open Door” policy, which led to the eventual alienation of countries to the United States and, finally, it created the Cold War. By analyzing these two works, the contrasts in the authors' perceptions regarding their treatment of the Spanish-American War, the Open Door Policy, and the origins of World War II become clear. A greater understanding of these perceptions and their distinctions can shed light on the origins of the Cold War. George F. Kennan begins his discussion of the Spanish-American War by examining the origins of the conflict. Short-term public opinion pushed the American government into conflict with Spain. This conflict was not for national security or seen as an enforcement action of the Monroe Doctrine, but was the result of subjective and emotional reasoning. Compounding this mistake was the acquisition of the Philippines, which served to encourage Americans to exploit economic opportunities in China, resulting in Secretary of State John Hay's open-door policy. In contrast, William Appleman Williams, states that the need for economic expansion led to the Spanish-American War. Imperialist impulses sought to acquire... middle of paper... the fundamental concepts that should form the foundation of foreign policy. America's position in the world evolved from being a world power indifferent to international security in 1900 to 1950, when America was still a world power, but Americans had to deal with the fear of annihilation by of the Soviet Union. Williams claims that the latest "tragedy of American diplomacy" was the failure of the open door policy. This failure, according to the author, is not the result of its poor application or its inherent weaknesses, but rather of its successes. This culminated in the Cold War, as Truman called for the resumption of the open door policy without providing economic assistance to the Soviet Union. These perspectives have relevance in the contemporary international environment and could be used in an examination of American involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq.