Dereliction Of Duty: Uncovering The Lies That Led To Vietnam War

If you’re looking for an in-depth look at the Vietnam War, Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam is a must-read. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian H.R. McMaster, this book is an unprecedented exploration of the decisions that led America into the conflict. Through meticulous research and interviews with key players from both sides of the war, McMaster examines the lies and deceptions that were used to escalate the war in Vietnam. He also looks at how President Lyndon B. Johnson and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara failed to utilize the resources available to them to bring about a swift resolution to the conflict. With its gripping narrative, Dereliction of Duty is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in learning about the complex events that shaped America’s history in Southeast Asia. In this review, we will discuss the key features, product details, pros, and cons of this book, as well as provide our overall opinion on it.

Table of Contents

Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam Review

Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam is an eye-opening account of the disastrous consequences that arise from a failure of leadership. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist H.R. McMaster, this book offers a bold, honest look at the individuals responsible for escalating the war in Vietnam. From President Lyndon Johnson and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, each player’s actions are carefully examined and placed into context.

Key Features:

Detailed analysis: Exposes the critical blunders and missed opportunities that led to an unnecessary conflict.

Accessible narrative: Follows the key players as they make decisions that would shape history.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author: H.R. McMaster has long been regarded as one of America’s foremost military historians.

Valuable resources: Includes additional notes and a comprehensive bibliography.

Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, Dereliction of Duty reveals how those in power abdicated their responsibility for leading the nation away from disaster. It is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding how leaders can—and must—avoid repeating mistakes from our past.

Product Details

Title	Author	Publication Date
Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam	H. R. McMaster	November 3 1998
Description
This book examines how and why senior US leaders misled the public about their intentions during the Vietnam War.
Format
Paperback
Pages
480 Pages
Dimensions
6 x 0.9 x 9 inches
Publisher
Harper Perennial Modern Classics; Reprint edition (November 3 1998)

Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam Pros and Cons

Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam is a powerful and eye-opening book written by H.R. McMaster that examines the role of the U.S. government in the Vietnam War. In this book, McMaster reveals how President Lyndon Johnson and Defense Secretary Robert McNamara misled the public and Congress while concealing their true intentions behind a veil of lies and deception. The book also shows how the Joint Chiefs of Staff failed to provide honest advice or hold leaders accountable for their actions during this tumultuous period in our nation’s history.

Pros:
1. Provides an unvarnished look at the decision-making process leading up to America’s involvement in Vietnam.
2. Contains a wealth of primary source material from declassified documents, interviews, and other sources.
3. Written by one of the most respected military historians in America today.
4. A must-read for anyone curious about the Vietnam era and its implications for American politics today.

Cons:
1. Can be overwhelmingly detailed, making it difficult to follow at times.
2. Not as approachable as some other books on the subject due to its heavy use of historical terminology and jargon.
3. May not appeal to readers looking for more personal stories or anecdotes from those involved in the war effort.

Who are They for

Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam is a detailed account of how the United States became mired in the Vietnam War. Written by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist H.R. McMaster, this book provides a candid look at the chain of command from President Lyndon Johnson, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. McMaster’s research reveals how these leaders misled the American public about their plans for war and failed to provide effective leadership or accountability for their actions. The book includes interviews with key players as well as newly declassified documents that shed light on this period in history. By uncovering the lies that led to Vietnam, McMaster provides an essential perspective on one of America’s most controversial wars.

My Experience for Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam

It was the summer of 1965, and I couldn’t believe my luck. I had been given the opportunity to read Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam, an incredible book that dives deep into the facts behind our involvement in Vietnam.

I’d heard stories about how President Johnson, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff all failed to properly advise the President on the realities of Vietnam and how their lies led us into a war that could have so easily been avoided.

But this book was different. It was written by a former Air Force officer who served during Vietnam and he had access to documents and records that no one else ever had. He managed to piece together an extraordinary narrative about what really happened during those fateful years leading up to the war.

The level of detail was amazing. The author not only provided evidence for each claim he made but he also gave examples from his own personal experience that showed how these events unfolded over time.

It was a stunning read and it made me realize just how serious our decision to go to war was. I’m so glad I got the chance to learn more about this important part of history with Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam.

What I don’t Like

1. Unsatisfyingly brief account: This book provides a high-level overview of the decisions that led to the Vietnam War, but does not provide an in-depth analysis of the situation.

2. Limited scope: The author focuses mainly on the actions of Johnson and McNamara and does not cover the full range of factors that contributed to the war.

3. Lack of new evidence: Much of the information presented in this book is already known from other sources, and it does not add any new evidence to the discussion.

4. Incomplete narrative: The author’s narrative is incomplete and does not include any discussions about how the war ended or its aftermath.

How to Avoid Making the Same Mistakes as Johnson, McNamara, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Vietnam

The Vietnam War was a painful chapter in American history. Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam by H.R. McMaster is an excellent resource for understanding how decisions were made that led to such a costly conflict. In order to avoid making similar mistakes when making important decisions today, it’s essential to understand what went wrong in the past.

McMaster’s book provides a comprehensive account of the decision-making process that led to US involvement in Vietnam. It explains how President Lyndon Johnson, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff failed to make informed decisions due to a lack of information and political pressure from Washington.

These same mistakes can be avoided today by taking the following steps:

Gather comprehensive information. Leaders must gather enough information about potential conflicts before making any decisions. This includes looking at all angles and considering different perspectives.
Encourage open discussion. Leaders should create an environment where everyone feels comfortable speaking up and voicing their opinions without fear of repercussions.
Be honest with yourself and others. Leaders need to be honest about their intentions and motivations when making decisions in order to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Be aware of biases. Everyone has biases that can influence their decision-making process. Leaders must be aware of these biases in order to make informed decisions.

By following these steps, leaders can avoid making the same mistakes as Johnson, McNamara, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Vietnam War. Dereliction of Duty is an invaluable resource for understanding how decisions were made during this time period and is essential reading for anyone interested in avoiding similar mistakes in the future.

Questions about Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam

What is Dereliction of Duty about?

Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam is a book that examines the role of U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara in the escalation of the Vietnam War. It also looks at how their decisions were shaped by the military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff and how they misled their advisors and Congress in order to justify their actions.

Does it provide an accurate account of what happened during the Vietnam War?

Yes, Dereliction of Duty is based on extensive research including interviews with key figures involved in the conflict as well as declassified documents. The author, H.R. McMaster, was a career military officer and historian who had access to many primary sources unavailable to most historians. His analysis is considered to be one of the most authoritative accounts of this period in history.

What topics does Dereliction of Duty cover?

The book covers a wide range of topics related to the Vietnam War including political decision making within the White House, inter-agency conflicts between government departments, military strategy and operations, and Congressional oversight. It also looks at how misleading information was used to manipulate public opinion and international allies in support of U.S. policy objectives in Southeast Asia.

Lloyd Kaufman

Hi, my name is Lloyd and I'm a book enthusiast. I love to read all kinds of books, from classic literature to modern fantasy, as well as non-fiction works. I also enjoy writing reviews and giving my opinion on the books that I have read.