In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER. The definitive insider's account of American policy making in Vietnam. "Can anyone remember a public official with the courage to confess error and explain where he and his country went wrong? This is what Robert McNamara does in this brave, honest, honorable, and altogether compelling book."—Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. 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. With unprecedented candor and drawing on a wealth of newly declassified documents, McNamara reveals the fatal misassumptions behind our involvement in Vietnam. Keenly observed and dramatically written, In Retrospect possesses the urgency and poignancy that mark the very best histories—and the unsparing candor that is the trademark of the greatest personal memoirs. Includes a preface written by McNamara for the paperback edition. |
Contents
The Christmas Bombing Pause | 207 |
On several occasions during the Vietnam War the Joint Chiefs | 340 |
Appendix to the Vintage Edition | 347 |
487 | |
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Common terms and phrases
action administration advised the president air attacks ambassador American asked believed bombing of North bombing pause China civilian Communist confrontation continued coup courtesy the author crisis criticism Cuba Cuban Cuban Missile Crisis David Halberstam Dean Rusk debate decisions Defense Department Diem Diem's diplomatic effect escalation guerrilla Halberstam Hanoi Harvard ibid increased U.S. January Joint Chiefs Kennedy's Kosygin Laos later leaders Lodge loss Marg McGeorge Bundy meeting memo memorandum Minh Trail Missile Moscow negotiated November nuclear numbers October Okamoto/LBJ Library Collection operations Pentagon Pentagon Papers Photo courtesy Yoichi political President Johnson President Kennedy president's respond risk Robert McAfee Brown Robert McNamara Saigon Secretary of Defense South Vietnam Southeast Asia Soviet Union targets U.S. forces U.S. Government U.S. military U.S. troops United Viet Vietcong Vietnamese views Walt Rostow Washington Westy Westy's White House withdrawal World Bank