American Tragedy: The Vietnam War Directed by Kennedy and Johnson: The Vietnam War Directed by Kennedy and Johnson

Author: David Kaiser
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-09-01
Features: David Kaiser, the author of An American Tragedy, once said he was "proud to be a citizen of one of the greatest nations on Earth," but "war irrevocably changed me, showing me the true face of my country: not a brand-new, unique civilization moving forward towards victory, but a great nation not so different from others, driven more by emotion than reason, sometimes cursed by excessive confidence, and its mistakes could be as significant as its victories." This awareness is also permeated in the book The Victors' Army, but unlike An American Tragedy, which reflects on a nation through a war, The Victors' Army reflects on the fate of all of humanity. In fact, "war" reveals not just war itself, but the richer depths of history. An American Tragedy offers an unparalleled reinterpretation of America's intervention in Vietnam. David Kaiser possesses unpublished, fascinating new archival materials that help us understand why this distant Asian peninsula became such a contested Cold War prize. Without reading this outstanding book, one cannot correctly understand the Vietnam War. —Douglas Brinkley
On the debate that took place within the government thirty-five years ago about what we should do with South Vietnam, An American Tragedy provides an outstanding analysis. David Kaiser reveals how we stumbled into an unnecessary war. —Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.
This book vividly portrays and incisively analyzes the international situation in the 1960s, particularly U.S. foreign policy toward Southeast Asian countries, using newly disclosed archives and audio materials. It truthfully depicts how the White House leadership, including Kennedy and Johnson, step by step led both the Vietnamese people and the American people into a war tragedy. The book offers an in-depth portrayal of the actions and nuanced psychology of figures like Kennedy and Johnson in the course of history, uncovering the inner workings of the U.S. White House's decision to wage war in Vietnam. It is a long, factual account that examines the Vietnam War from the perspective of top-level decision-making. The author seamlessly integrates his narrative of history with his reflections, employing a powerful and thought-provoking style.