*In Robert McNamara's memoir In Retrospect, he acknowledges that the Johnson Administration, in which he was a leading actor, made several serious mistakes in its handling of the Vietnam War. What does he see as the major mistakes? And how does he explain them?
*In the Appendix of the paperback edition McNamara has included many articles both pro and con, which address the content of his book. Pick two and briefly summarize them, including your initial reaction to these commentaries.
*Drawing upon any three of the following documents, indicate whether you think they support or undermine McNamara's analysis:
McGeorge Bundy Recommends Sustained Reprisals, February 7, 1965.
Robert McNamara Recommends Escalation, 1965
George Ball Dissents, 1965
Johnson Recalls His decision to Commit Troops in 1965
Meeting on Westmoreland's Request for Additional Troops, June 1965
*Drawing upon any three of the following transcripts, indicate whether you think they support or undermine McNamara's presentation:
Johnson/Dirksen, February 17, 1965
Johnson/Bundy February 18, 1965
Johnson/Russell, March 6, 1965.
Johnson/ NcNamara, April 20, 1965
Johnson/Mansfield, June 8, 1965
Johnson/ McNamara, June 10, 1965
Johnson/Eisenhower, July 2, 1965.
*Drawing upon Caputo's Rumor of War and the Introduction, plus Chapter 1 in Bilton and Sim's book on My Lai, briefly discuss some of the disturbing features of the Vietnam War on the ground. From what you have read of McNamara's memoir, do you think that he and/or his colleagues were aware of these things? And if not, do you see this as a problem?
*Historian Fred Logevoll has written one of the most important available books on the subject of the Johnson Administration's escalation of the war in 1964-65. He undoubtedly wrote it -as a partial rebuttal to McNamara. His concluding chapter, "Choosing War" will be distributed. Try to summarize what Logevoll is saying. And indicate whether you find his point of view more persuasive than McNamara's. If you find neither explanation convincing, explain why.