Editing John Peurifoy (section)

==Legacy and Critical Perspective==
Peurifoy’s career epitomized Cold War diplomacy’s aggressive anti-communism. His role in Guatemala’s 1954 coup, detailed in Secret History by Nick Cullather, made him a linchpin in [[Operation PBSuccess]] earning praise from U.S. officials but condemnation for destabilizing a democratic government. The coup’s aftermath, sparking a civil war with over 200,000 deaths, remains his most controversial legacy, as noted in Shattered Hope by Piero Gleijeses. In Greece, his heavy-handed approach strengthened U.S. influence but strained relations with local leaders. His Thailand tenure, though brief, positioned him to counter communism in a critical region.

Critical works like Bitter Fruit depict Peurifoy as a CIA pawn enforcing U.S. imperialism. There were claims he was assassination in Thailand due to his being suspected as under the influence of the CIA.