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Lessons In Disaster: McGeorge Bundy And The Path To War In Vietnam (2008)

by Gordon M. Goldstein(Favorite Author)

3.84 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0805079718 (ISBN13: 9780805079715)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Times Books

review 1: Interesting book about Bundy and the decisions made on whether or not to send troops into Vietnam. A bit of an odd book considering the author's relationship with Bundy (they were collaborating, Bundy died, then the book had to be about Bundy instead), but still interesting. The book is meant to teach lessons, (hence the title) not just to be a historical record of what happened, and I think it succeeds in those terms. Aside from the titles of each chapter, there are no prescribed lessons, but what you think about when you read it definitely brings those up. The author is both analysing what Bundy thought he should have done (from Bundy's perspective) and what the author identifies as his actual shortcomings as well as when Bundy failed to perceive those shortcomings in ac... moretion. Bundy himself, but mostly the author, identify several shortcomings in Bundy's behavior during his stint as essentially the National Security Advisor to both Kennedy and Johnson. First, Bundy was not a very good manager and not a good gatekeeper (even though he'd proven to be pretty good in his academic jobs). Second, he also didn't work on weekends (author loves highlighting this) and didn't quite seem to have what he needed to put into a position of that importance. Third, Bundy was fixated on the US's credibility issues in the world and seemed most worried about whether or not there would be a "paper tiger" - not worried about whether we'd win (and didn't think so) or the lives we'd lose... crazy.The most interesting part of the book is the end - in which the conclusion seems to be that Kennedy would not have gone to war in Vietnam and would have been able to resist the rising tide of the pressure. The lesson there seems to be that the President, not the advisors, make the decision. Bundy (and others) distinguish Johnson as the great legislator, but not necessarily the kind of independent leader needed for foreign policy decisions to make strategy, stay the convictions, and resist the completely unsupported evidence put before them (it was really shocking how no one ever really analyzed what we wanted out of the war! Or what it would take!).
review 2: This book has made me quite skeptical about the leaders in our government. Of course, I hope all the current leaders have all read this and learned from it.Through 6 lessons, Goldstein writes about the many mistakes of the American administration during Kennedy's and LBJ's presidencies. We all know that the Vietnam War ended badly, but I did not realize it was jumped into so blindly. Even when they were presented with research that the chances of winning were slim to nothing, they still proceeded with the war. I do realize that it was a very tough situation, but the unorganization of the administration still appalls me. I'm sure people would still criticize Johnson if he had withdrawn early and lost, but at least not as many lives would have been lost.There are a lot of names mentioned so it can get a bit confusng. Just have to pay close attention. I thought I would be bored by this (which at times I was), but overall, very interesting content. less

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