Ahead of his lecture at the Kentucky Center, he spoke with LPM’s Bill Burton about his book and the beginnings of the Cold War.

This transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Bill Burton: The era in this country after World War II is often defined by that word, "McCarthyism." But it wasn't simply Sen. Joe McCarthy acting alone. It went much deeper, didn't it?

Clay Risen: Yeah, it did. And in fact, he only came in halfway into the story, as it were. My book really starts in 1946, which is four years before McCarthy came onto the scene.

BB: Your book begins with President Harry Truman and what he did to start the Cold War?

CR: Harry Truman was worried about both the risk of Soviet espionage and subversion here in the United States. He was worried about what the Cold War was go

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