When big, friendly Businessman James Bruce checked in last year as U.S. ambassador at Buenos Aires, he had high hopes that the U.S. could do business with Argentina. He learned a little Spanish, hit it off so well with President Juan Peron that the two were soon back-slapping each other.
But personal friendliness could not soften the hard reality that Argentina was running out of dollars and smack into a first-rate financial crisis. Moreover, the Peron plan of exacting heavy tribute from hungry Europe for Argentine produce was beginning to backfire.
Easygoing James Bruce soon had headaches galore....