An epiphany during his freshman year at the University of Pennsylvania, sparked by the Vietnam War, set Hans Binnendijk on a career in national security and foreign policy that would span half a century and the administrations of ten U.S. presidents. After earning his PhD at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 1972, he served in senior positions in the Senate and Executive Branch, directed leading policy research institutes, and published extensively on international security. In this memoir, he reflects on the people, events, and policy debates that shaped his career while weaving together professional experiences, personal stories, and family history.