The Pentagon Papers by Neil Sheehan, Hendrick Smith, E. W. Kenworthy, and Fox Butterfield
2017 (1971) / 810 pgs

The Vietnam war, one could argue the single conflict that changed how citizens feel about trusting the U.S. government today. The Pentagon Papers summarizes the papers that were released to news media and printed in 1971. At the time, a hotly contested event that went to the Supreme Court. As of this writing, our equivalent of this is the Snowden leaking of documents to Wikileaks.

Naturally, this isn’t the entire Pentagon Papers as they are many volumes. Historians and reporters sat down and wrote 10 Chapters the summarize a time frame by an event that impacted our involvement in the war.  It starts with the Truman administration (1945) and concludes at the Johnson era (1967). Interestingly, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara commissioned the report in 1967 to allow historians the truth behind the war.  One could argue it was him building his case for future judgment on his involvement in the war’s conduct.  [Sidenote: A fascinating documentary called The Fog of War has Sec McNamara talking about the 10 lessons he learned in his life included getting questioned about Vietnam]

I did find this very fascinating to read. Although it gets very tedious as you are reading memorandums written with many thoughts and opinions.  The format for each chapter is simple.  First, the title (significance and time frame), next is a list of highlights, an excellent exposition of the material, finally selected memo’s to support what was written.  In the memo’s, more information is added, naturally, that provide more insight.

I found it fascinating reading the truth of why and how we conducted the war versus what was being told to the American people.  After reading this, I wish the same thing was written for every conflict we have conducted. For historians, the information is invaluable.  Could we imagine how World War 2 would be written if something similar is released with all the leaders’ thoughts that led, planned, and conducted the war?  Would they have made the same decision if they knew that their papers and idea would be released in a record for all to read and judge?  I firmly believe that all leaders should read this and keep a copy near them on their work desk to think about when they make decisions that impact lives. 

Would I recommend this?  Only if you are interested in history or the truth of the Vietnam War.  Many times I almost fell asleep reading the monotonous memo’s that leaders wrote.  I did enjoy it, and it will have a place at my desk.

Favorite line: June 1964, President Johnson asked the C.I.A Director about the actual probability of the Domino Theory. He was informed on the 9^th of June, “With the possible exception to Cambodia – it is unlikely that no nation in the area would quickly succumb to Communism as a result of the fall of South Vietnam.”  – The Pentagon Papers

Enjoy a cup of coffee and a good book!

Lopaka

A Cartoon History of United States Foreign Policy 1776-1976 by the Editors of the Foreign Policy Association
1976 / 196 pgs

This is a easy read. First, it’s a simplified foreign history narrative of the United States from 1776 to 1976. Not much depth involved because the star is the comics that are shown with each commentary event. What is fascinating is seeing the evolution of political cartoons over the last 200 years. However, it’s not multiple comics for one event, just a few, if not just one, comic. Starting with the infamous divided snake drawn by Benjamin Franklin before for the United States was formed to reaction to events in 1776 to the view of United States influence over the United Nations after Vietnam, the “loss of China”, and resignation of Nixon.

For those that enjoy history with a sense of humor, this is a quick and fascinating read. Again, if you are versed in United States history, there is very little learning from the narrative. The comics are fun to read and interpret though.

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and a wonderful book!

Lopaka

The Ten Thousand Day War – Vietnam: 1945-1975- by Michael Maclear

1981/369 pgs

Vietnam, a war that changed everything about America and how the citizens trust the government.  This novel is about the history of the war and when the United States got involved and why.  As the title suggested, it starts with the United States’ support for Indo-China against the Japanese in 1945. It ends with the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. 

It’s a very well study of the war and hits all the major points in 20 Chapters.  It dives into the infamous French loss at Dien Bein Phu that caused them to leave Vietnam.  Like a snake, it weaves into our involvement with the South and how the cold war keyed our participation.  From each administration that had a roll with Vietnam, from Roosevelt to Ford, Maclear shows the many times that we were projected to leave.  He paints a shocking picture of the Assassination of the president of Vietnam and how it impacted JFK, who would be killed only a few months later. 

He showed how Johnson wanted to win the war and create the Great Society only for all his ambitious plans for fall because of Vietnam.  One of the great highlights is 1968 and how that impacted the United States starting with the Tet Offensive.

This historical tale was easy reading, and not every paragraph crammed with in-depth knowledge.  I absolutely enjoyed reading this and would recommend to anyone that wants to know about Vietnam and why it still is an impact on the United States today.     

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and a good book!

Lopaka

History’s Greatest Hits by Joseph Cummins
2007/315 pgs

History’s Greatest Hit’s is an attempt to pick the most significant hits out of history. However, sadly, it misses the mark widely because some of the events chosen bring to question why a specific event was chosen, and others were not. 

For example, The Ancient World 250 BCE-500 AD section, highlights three events. All very important. Hannibal crossing the Alpes, Assassination of Julius Caesar, and the Fall of Rome. That’s it. Those are the only three events you should know from that time. Alexander the Great doesn’t matter. The burning of library at Alexandria. I can forgive leaving Greece’s impact on the world, or China’s, or Egypts…yes this book is very Eurocentric. However, missing the most important and critical event from Roman history…Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon 49 BC is unforgiving. If a historian narrates vital moments in Roman history for prosperity omitting that pivotal event and why it’s significant to Rome, it begs the reader to ask what else is forgotten. Cummins, however, commits an even more critical error that makes the omission of the Rubicon look minor and insignificant.

Waterloo. The final battle for Napoleon. A significant historical event. Cummins does an excellent narration of the struggle and why Napoleon lost. Sadly, as I read this story, it made me upset, thinking others are reading it and then having discussions about Waterloo and what they thought was factual information. In Cummins’s narration, he states the Seventh Coalition contained forces from Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. With an army from Prussia. Causing a double-take on my behalf, re-reading the sentence, and a face slap. 

For those reading this and are confused about why I state this, please allow me to explain. Belgium doesn’t become a nation until 1830 after the Belgium Revolution. Germany didn’t exist as a nation until 1871. Even if one wants to state that the forces would have come from what is Germany today, then they can’t say Prussia because Prussia no longer existed after the German unification of 1871 since the King of Prussia, Wilhelm I became the German Emperor or Keizer. The battle of Waterloo was in 1815. Using modern nation titles to describe old forces is wrong, and those that read history will falsely believe that nations have been around longer than they truly have. For those that would read this and say that’s minor, then why didn’t Cummins in the Ancient world section when talking about Rome state Italy? Yes, proper terms in history do matter.

Finally, as the book gets into the modern era, the 1900’s. Cummins narrates about the battle of the Somme and why it’s the bloodiest day in British Army history. Also, the disaster of Gallipoli and how it almost destroyed the career of Churchill. However, one fact not mentioned, the critical event that has shaped the world as we know it today….the Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of the Austrian-Hungarian empire, is omitted.

There are many more events that Cummins left out. If he was trying to tell a story of events mostly forget, however, should be remembered.  The Gettysburg Address, Kennedy’s Assassination, and many others shouldn’t have been in the book as most people in the United States know about those events. History’s Greatest Hits is not a horrible read. 

I enjoyed reading it and took it with a grain of salt, as this is what Cummins views as the Greatest Events. 

There are many more errors in the book, and that’s ok. Would I recommend this book, no. As I stated before, if I had time to correct the many errors and add in other events that are very significant, then I would. However, for a history book, this falls very short of its intent.  

Enjoy a good book and a cup of coffee.

Lopaka