Haunting Legacy : Vietnam and the American Presidency From Ford to Obama

"'By God, we've kicked the Vietnam syndrome,' crowed President George H. W. Bush when he repelled Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1991. He was wrong. The Vietnam debacle continues to haunt America's political leaders, military men, and population. Marvin Kalb and Deborah Kalb's account of this phenomenon is studiously researched, vividly narrated, and, above all, highly readable. It will stand as a major contribution to the subject."—Stanley Karnow, author of __Vietnam: A History__, winner of the Pulitzer Prize The United States had never lost a war—that is, until 1975, when it was forced to flee Saigon in humiliation after losing to what Lyndon Johnson called a "raggedy-ass little fourth-rate country." The legacy of this first defeat has haunted every president since, especially on the decision of whether to put "boots on the ground" and commit troops to war. In __Haunting Legacy__, the father-daughter journalist team of Marvin Kalb and Deborah Kalb presents a compelling, accessible, and hugely important history of presidential decisionmaking on one crucial issue: in light of the Vietnam debacle, under what circumstances should the United States go to war? The sobering lesson of Vietnam is that the United States is not invincible—it can lose a war—and thus it must be more discriminating about the use of American power. Every president has faced the ghosts of Vietnam in his own way, though each has been wary of being sucked into another unpopular war. Ford (during the Mayaguez crisis) and both Bushes (Persian Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan) deployed massive force, as if to say, "Vietnam, be damned." On the other hand, Carter, Clinton, and Reagan (to the surprise of many) acted with extreme caution, mindful of the Vietnam experience. Obama has also wrestled with the Vietnam legacy, using doses of American firepower in Libya while still engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan. The authors spent five years interviewing hundreds of officials from every postwar administration and conducting extensive research in presidential libraries and archives, and they've produced insight and information never before published. Equal parts taut history, revealing biography, and cautionary tale, __Haunting Legacy__ is must reading for anyone trying to understand the power of the past to influence war-and-peace decisions of the present, and of the future. The United States had never lost a war—that is, until 1975, when it was forced to flee Saigon in humiliation after losing to what Lyndon Johnson called a'raggedy-ass little fourth-rate country.'The legacy of this first defeat has haunted every president since, especially on the decision of whether to put'boots on the ground'and commit troops to war.In Haunting Legacy, the father-daughter journalist team of Marvin Kalb and Deborah Kalb presents a compelling, accessible, and hugely important history of presidential decisionmaking on one crucial issue: in light of the Vietnam debacle, under what circumstances should the United States go to war?The sobering lesson of Vietnam is that the United States is not invincible—it can lose a war—and thus it must be more discriminating about the use of American power. Every president has faced the ghosts of Vietnam in his own way, though each has been wary of being sucked into another unpopular war. Ford (during the Mayaguez crisis) and both Bushes (Persian Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan) deployed massive force, as if to say,'Vietnam, be damned.'On the other hand, Carter, Clinton, and Reagan (to the surprise of many) acted with extreme caution, mindful of the Vietnam experience. Obama has also wrestled with the Vietnam legacy, using doses of American firepower in Libya while still engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan.The authors spent five years interviewing hundreds of officials from every post war administration and conducting extensive research in presidential libraries and archives, and they've produced insight and information never before published. Equal parts taut history, revealing biography, and cautionary tale, Haunting Legacy is must reading for anyone trying to understand the power of the past to influence war-and-peace decisions of the present, and of the future. The United States had never lost a warthat is, until 1975, when it was forced to flee Saigon in humiliation after losing to what Lyndon Johnson called a "raggedy-ass little fourth-rate country." The legacy of this first defeat has haunted every president since, especially on the decision of whether to put "boots on the ground" and commit troops to war. In Haunting Legacy , the father-daughter journalist team of Marvin Kalb and Deborah Kalb presents a compelling, accessible, and hugely important history of presidential decisionmaking on one crucial in light of the Vietnam debacle, under what circumstances should the United States go to war? The sobering lesson of Vietnam is that the United States is not invincibleit can lose a warand thus it must be more discriminating about the use of American power. Every president has faced the ghosts of Vietnam in his own way, though each has been wary of being sucked into another unpopular war. Ford (during the Mayaguez crisis) and both Bushes (Persian Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan) deployed massive force, as if to say, "Vietnam, be damned." On the other hand, Carter, Clinton, and Reagan (to the surprise of many) acted with extreme caution, mindful of the Vietnam experience. Obama has also wrestled with the Vietnam legacy, using doses of American firepower in Libya while still engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan. The authors spent five years interviewing hundreds of officials from every post war administration and conducting extensive research in presidential libraries and archives, and they've produced insight and information never before published. Equal parts taut history, revealing biography, and cautionary tale, Haunting Legacy is must reading for anyone trying to understand the power of the past to influence war-and-peace decisions of the present, and of the future. Front Flap......Page 2 Title Page......Page 5 Copyright Information......Page 6 Table of Contents......Page 9 Acknowledgments......Page 11 Introduction......Page 15 Ford: Finally, the War Ends......Page 21 Ford and the Mini-Challenge of the Mayaguez......Page 43 Carter, Brzezinski, and Russia's Vietnam......Page 55 Reagan, Grenada, Lebanon, and the Marines......Page 97 Bush I: Burying Vietnam......Page 129 Clinton: The First Baby-Boomer President......Page 164 Bush II: Boots on the Ground......Page 200 2004: The Swift Boat Campaign......Page 234 Obama:"Afghanistan Is Not Vietnam"......Page 255 "Good Enough"......Page 300 Notes......Page 321 Index to Quotations......Page 347 Index......Page 351 Back Flap......Page 370 Back Cover......Page 371 Examines How Presidential Decisionmaking Has Been Influenced By America's Defeat In The Vietnam War, Studying Presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Clinton, George W. Bush, And Obama And How They Have Approached Key Decisions Regarding Conflicts While In Office--provided By Publisher. Ford : Finally, The War Ends -- Ford And The Mini-challenge Of The Mayaguez -- Carter, Brzezinski, And Russia's Vietnam -- Reagan, Grenada, Lebanon, And The Marines -- Bush I : Burying Vietnam -- Clinton : The First Baby-boomer President -- Bush Ii : Boots On The Ground -- 2004 : The Swift Boat Campaign -- Obama : Afghanistan Is Not Vietnam -- Good Enough. Marvin Kalb And Deborah Kalb. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.