The Hot Seat

"No Australian diplomat I have known combines a greater range of experience and breadth of contacts, especially in - but not limited to - South East Asia, as does Richard Woolcott." - Henry Kissinger During his 50 years of public life, Australian diplomat Richard Woolcott witnessed - and often played a part in - many of the 20th century's pivotal moments. From his first posting, to Moscow on the eve of Stalin's death, to retirement as Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and trade, he remained the trusted confidant of politicians across the Labor-Liberal divide. Along the way he traversed nations and ideologies, helped to define our place in the world, and forged important political, cultural and economic ties with our neighbours. His skills as an international diplomat were often tested, most notably when - as ambassador to Indonesia in the 1970s - he came under intense scrutiny for his actions in the lead-up to Indonesia's invasion of East timor. the Hot Seat offers a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world of international debate and deal-making. It takes readers into the private realms of the powerful, and reveals the machinations behind Woolcott's greatest achievements-the maintenance of the Antarctic treaty and the creation of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Leavened by wry observation, it reveals the complicated, demanding but wonderfully rich experiences of diplomatic life, both home and abroad.