The NSA: A Recent History

Lawyers, academics, military men: national-security advisers exist to guide presidents through the thicket of foreign policy, help shape an agenda—and keep feuding in check.

Henry Kissinger: Nixon's visionary got a thaw with China. But Vietnam still haunts.

Zbigniew Brzezinski: He was Carter's Kissinger; a foreign-policy realist.

Colin Powell: Mission for Reagan—reputation rehab after the Iran-contra fiasco.

Brent Scowcroft: Bush 41's NSA was among the best; Obama's an admirer.

Sandy Berger: Politically street-smart; was Clinton's go-to problem solver.

Condoleezza Rice: First female NSA, but couldn't check the boys' infighting.