Hearings held before and after the Apr. 25, 1974 coup, known as the Carnation Revolution, to consider the Azores agreement; U.S. military assistance to Portugal and its implications for U.S. relations with African; and developments in Mozambique, Angola, and the new Republic of Guinea-Bissau. Also considers present view in Portugal on the so-called territories in Africa, particularly those of General Antonio de Spinola, former commanding officer of Guinea-Bissau, and the question of Brazil's relationship with Portugal in Africa.

This book focuses on the United States' views and political actions in Portugal during the democratic transition, and should not be taken for a history of the Portuguese revolution. In other words, its aim is to evaluate the impact of American actions in the final outcome of the transition from an authoritarian regime to democracy in Portugal. To that end, extensive research was carried out during a four-year period, both in the US and in Portugal, privileging primary sources, especially American and Portuguese archival materials, many of which were previously unpublished.