As staff secretary to President Dwight Eisenhower from 1954 to 1961, General Andrew Goodpaster was the person most privy to Eisenhowers thinking and key decisions during his White House years. Goodpaster began his long affiliation with Eisenhower as a staff officer under his leadership of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), and he went on to become the presidents right-hand man on security matters. In the interview he discusses American relations with Western Europe. He focuses mainly on Eisenhowers views, both when he was at SHAPE and when he became president. He explains the nature of the relationship between the U.S. and Great Britain, especially in terms of nuclear cooperation, as well as the American-British-French relationship. He describes the development of more advanced nuclear weapons, including thermonuclear devices and strategic weapons, and the effect these had on deterrence. He describes the formation of NATO, and the difficulties encountered because of the question of German rearmament. He explains the decision have NATO utilize American nuclear weapons, and reactions of various people to the strategy of flexible response.