He helped lead the nation into the maelstrom of vietnam and spent the rest of his life wrestling with the. Robert mcnamaras 11 lessons from vietnam renegade inc. After leaving the defense department, mcnamara received the medal of freedom, published a book, and was hired as president of the world bank. Robert mcnamara simple english wikipedia, the free. Secretary of defense excoriated for his part in leading america into the vietnam war. Mcnamara illustrating his observations of the nature of modern warfare. Delaware county district library ohio american libraries. Robert strange mcnamara 19162009 find a grave memorial. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Robert mcnamara bio, facts, family famous birthdays. In 1993, washington journalist deborah shapley published a 615page biography of robert mcnamara titled promise and power. In addition to these illuminations in retrospect makes of policymaking, mcnamaras book is of particular interest to the degree that it discusses the role intelligence playedor did not playin vietnam decisionmaking.
Mcnamara is a 2003 american documentary film about the life and times of former u. I get more fascinated every time i watch this film. Robert mcnamara on doubts, and vietnam former defense secretary robert mcnamara died monday. Grahams book exudes affection for kissinger as well as robert mcnamara and other luminaries of.
A disillusioned robert mcnamara resigned, unable to come to terms with the failure of his methods and his own responsibilty for the war. Mcnamara appeared more impressed by economics and schellings compellsnce theory than by johnsons liberalism or senatestyle dealmaking, but they agreed in broad policy. Private pessimism in a private memorandumhegave to the president on 19 may1967, mcnamarapainted a darkpicture. This is what robert mcnamara does in this brave, honest, honorable, and altogether compelling book. In retrospect by robert mcnamara overdrive rakuten. The title alone suggests his regrets, and the book is a candid reexamination of the mistakes he made or allowed to be made while sod.
Log in or sign up for facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. Scope and content note the papers of robert strange mcnamara 19162009 span the years 19342009. In the springof1967he confessed his apostasy to lbj. Mcnamaras controversial book tells the inside and personal. In retrospect, there may have been times when more troops could have helped. Mcnamara was perhaps the most influential defense secretary of the 20th century. The casualty lists mounted as the number of troops and the intensity of fighting escalated.
Robert mcnamara was a secretary for the department of defense with 65 videos in the cspan video library. In short, as outlined below, secretary mcnamara largely ignored cias judgments for some years, but by 196667 had come to. By 1967he hadturned to ciafor independent, candid analyses ofthe wars progress and hadcommissionedthe gathering of whatbecame thepentagonpapers. Please wash your hands and practise social distancing. In 1972 he was in the news when a man saw him on a.
It will first take a brief look at this book s purpose, main ideas and. For me, the fog of war 2003 is absolutely the gift that keeps on giving. In a 1995 interview with terry gross, mcnamara reflects on. Interview with robert mcnamara continue offer of water. Mcnamara retrospective account is enriched with reflections upon the diplomatic mistakes made during that period that could have been avoided and ends with a chapter on the lessons of vietnam for the future of us diplomacy. Mickey kaus wrote a good essay about mcnamara in 1995, when mcnamara published an apologyapologia titled in retrospect, which kaus archly called more.
Sign up to our daily newsletters to join the frontline of the revolution in masculinity plus be the first to read columns by professor green and jason fox. Mcnamara with this book was able to put his mind at ease before he passed away, because he certainly didnt provide any written sorrow for all that. Undergraduate research assistant at the university of akron. Former defense secretary robert mcnamara gestures during a news conference in washington, jan. By renegade inc smart living bookmark to dashboard. Check out our resources for adapting to these times. Robert mcnamara, who bears a lot of responsibility for the american military adventure in vietnam, passed away earlier this week. The list, set out in barely two pages toward the end of the book, is broadly.
Rip, robert mcnamara politics and religion quarter to. Given that there was a cold war, geographic limits needed. I never quite understood how mcnamara continued to be vilified after in retrospect. As a history of the vietnam war, robert mcnamaras memoir is bound to disappoint. Mcnamaras in retrospect is very clear on many of his mistakes. Well, first, we were certain at the time that the first attack took place. At the time, sir, what made you think that the second tonkin gulf attack had taken place, and do you think, in retrospect, that it did. In retrospect mcnamarasbookis of particularinterest to the with lbj. Johnson, during which time he played a large role in escalating the united states involvement in. Mcnamara put in place a statistical strategy for victory in vietnam.
Robert strange mcnamara june 9, 1916 july 6, 2009 was an american business executive and the eighth secretary of defense, serving from 1961 to 1968 under presidents john f. For better and worse mcnamara shaped much in todays world and imprisoned himself. Of especial interest in reading mcnamaras book is the attention he does and does not give to two periods where intelligence judgments had a. Kennedy put mcnamara in the pentagon, he gave him two orders. Written twenty years after the end of the vietnam war, former secretary of defense robert mcnamaras controversial memoir answers the lingering questions that surround this disastrous episode in american history. Mcnamara, 1995 part indictment, part confessional, penned by the secretary of defense under kennedy and johnson. Mcnamara, in full robert strange mcnamara, born june 9, 1916, san francisco, california, u.
Join facebook to connect with robert mcnamara and others you may know. Written twenty years after the end of the vietnam war, former secretary of defense robert mcnamara s controversial memoir answers the lingering questions that surround this disastrous episode in american history. There are so many angles to it, so many subthemes to explore. In retrospect by robert francis mcnamara, 1995, times books edition, in english 1st ed. We misjudged then and we have since the geopolitical intentions of our adversaries and we exaggerated the dangers to the united states of their. His 1995 book, in retrospect, spoke of his guilt over unwise decisionmaking in the vietnam war. The film was directed by errol morris and features an original score by philip glass. The tragedy and lessons of vietnam 1st edition, kindle. One poured gasoline on himself outside mcnamaras pentagon window in 1965 and set himself ablaze, dying to protest the war. The tragedy and lessons of vietnam and millions of other books are available for instant access. Posts about robert mcnamara written by danielwalldammit. The book also contains a comprehensive appendix including a series of.
The real story behind katharine graham and the post. The best and the brightest was the title of david halberstams book about the group of. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Mac conmara anglicised as macnamara or mcnamara is an irish surname of a family of county clare in ireland. As the johnson administrations policy on vietnam drifted during the 1964 presidential election, military and political conditions in south vietnam rapidly worsened, heightening the dilemma between avoiding direct u. Thoughts engendered by robert mcnamaras in retrospect. Mcnamara has 22 books on goodreads with 5511 ratings. Mcnamara s controversial book tells the inside and personal story of. Revisiting thoughtsengendered by mcnamaras retrospect. However, you still have to read it alongside something like halberstams best and the brightest to be aware of the amount of blood that is never going to come off those hands. Robert mcnamara is currently a lecturer in international history at the university of ulster at coleraine and the author of britain, nasser and the balance of power in the middle east, 19521972.
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