John Norris - The Enduring Struggle: The History of the U.S. Agency for International Development and Americas Uneasy Transformation of the World

John Norris worked at AID during the 1990s both as a speechwriter and field disaster specialist. Since that time, he has served in a variety of senior roles at the State Department, United Nations, and nonprofits. Norris resides with his family on Bainbridge Island outside of Seattle, and he currently works at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundationalthough the views expressed here are entirely his own.

First, I want to acknowledge the innumerable contributions made by all the people at AID, past and present, who go about their jobs often under the most demanding conditions, and usually with little fanfare. Their talent and dedication have made the world a better place.

I owe thanks to many for their help and insight along the journey that was writing this book.

My family has been incredibly supportive of my work, even through the seemingly endless travails of 2020. Brenda, my wife, remains my best and truest muse and guide.

Carolyn Kenney was a fantastic research assistant and thought partner throughout and marched with good spirits through an incredible volume of material, covering more than six decades.

I also want to thank the many people who reviewed the text, including a handful of former AID administrators, who saved me from any number of self-inflicted blunders. Thanks also to Charles Kenny, a good friend and a fine author, who helped bring better focus to these pages, as did Curt Tarnoff and Larry Nowels, both formerly of the Congressional Research Service.

I want to express particular gratitude to the USAID Alumni Association for their support. Alexander Shakow, Carol Peasley, James Michel, Dan Runde, and the late John Sanbrailo all provided incredibly useful feedback, and they could not have been more gracious along the way. In addition, the alumni association helped underwrite my research effortsalthough the words and opinions expressed here are solely my own.

I also appreciate the help and support from my terrific agent, Gail Ross, and the whole team at Rowman, particularly Jon Sisk, who first reviewed my manuscript. And lastly, I would like to thank you, the reader. I always welcome your feedback, criticism, and inquiries.

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